Ceremonies begin for Royal Wedding By Azlan Othman, Azaraimy & Yusrin Junaidi Photo: Info Dept His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday afternoon attended the proposal of marriage ceremony or "Istiadat Bersuruh Diraja" in conjunction with the royal wedding of Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bulqiah and YM Pengiran Khairul Khalil bin Pengiran Syed Hj Jaafari at Baitul Rahmah, Istana Nurul Iman. Also present were His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah, HRH Prince 'Abdul Malik and HRH Prince 'Abdul Mateen. Earlier at the residence of the groom in Darul Karamah in Jln Babu Raja, the groom's side led by YAM Pengiran Sanggamara Diraja Major General (Rtd) Pengiran Haji Ibnu Ba'asith met at a ceremony to prepare an entourage for the "Istiadat Bersuruh Diraja" to Baitul Rahmah, Istana Nurul Iman. Among the attendees were YAM Pg Setia Negara Pg Haji Mokhtar Puteh and YAM Pg Indera Perkasa Pg Hj Hamdan and the groom's father YM Pg Syed Hj Jaafari bin Pg Syed Haji Mashor. Then, Pehin Bendahari Hj Awang Abu Bakar called for YAM Pg Sanggamara Diraja Major General (Rtd) to commence the ceremony. A Doa Selamat was then recited by YDM Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim. After the Doa Selamat, the entourage, led by YAM Pg Sanggamara Diraja Major General (Rtd) Pg Haji Ibnu Ba'asith moved to Istana Nurul Iman. The ceremony at Baitul Rahmah, Istana Nurul Iman saw the groom's entourage heading for the bride's place, including state dignitaries, chosen personage and the father of YM Pg Khairul Khalil, YM Pg Syed Hj Jaafari bin Pg Syed Hj Mashor, with the intention to seek the hand of the bride in marriage. The ceremony at Baitul Rahmah, Istana Nurul Iman, began with Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Paduka Dr Hj Awg Hussain informing YAM Pg Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pg Anak Hj Abdul Aziz that the ceremony was ready to begin. YAM Pg Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pg Anak Hj Abdul Aziz, in turn, instructed Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Paduka Dr Hj Awg Hussain to seek an audience with His Majesty to inform that the ceremony was ready to begin. Three ceremonial candles, three mats and three 'Bintang Petian', (which was made of the best wood, engraved with a particular design and resembles a small round tray, filled with a 'Kandi' and two small cups) were later brought in to the Baitul Rahmah hall where the ceremony was held. Then YAM Pg Setia Negara Pg Hj Mohd Yusof, along with the father of the groom, sought an audience with His Majesty to convey the intention for the hand in marriage. His Majesty in his Titah expressed pleasure to welcome the arrival of the entourage of Pg Syed Hj Jaafari for such a purpose and accepted the intention and that may Allah bless the ceremony. His Majesty added, as noted such "Istiadat Bersuruh Diraja" was the start of the wedding events. Meanwhile, the "Istiadat Bersuruh Diraja" will herald a series of two week-long ceremonies where the opening of "Gendang Jaga-Jaga" today (June 2) at the Lapau ceremonial hall will take place. The ceremony ended with the reading of a Doa Selamat by the State Mufti. Present at the ceremony were YAM Pengiran Cheterias, cabinet ministers, members of the consultative councils, deputy ministers, Pengiran-Pengiran Peranakan, Pehin Menteri, Menteri Pendalaman, foreign diplomats, permanent secretaries and heads of government department. - Borneo Bulletin (2nd June 2007)