A Doa Selamat recital and closing of Gendang Jaga-Jaga (the closing of the playing of traditional musical instruments by royal court musicians) ceremony took place at Jalan Permaisuara in Kampong Beribi yesterday.

It was held to mark the end of ceremonies for the royal wedding between Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah and YAM Pengiran Anak Haji Muhammad Ruzaini bin Pengiran Dr Haji Mohd Yakub.

Present at the ceremony was HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah. HRH was greeted by YAM Pengiran Sanggamara Diraja Major General (Rtd) Pengiran Haji Ibnu Basit, YAM Pengiran Kerma Raja Pengiran Haji Kamarulzaman, YAM Pengiran Ratna Wijaya Brigadier General (Rtd) Pengiran Haji Hasnan and Pengiran Dr Haji Mohd Yakub.

In the ceremonial hall, YB Pehin Orang Kaya Maharaja Kerna Dato Paduka Seri Awg Hj Yaakub informed YAM Pengiran Sanggamara Diraja Major General (Rtd) Pengiran Haji Ibnu Basit that the ceremony was ready to commence.

YAM Pengiran Sanggamara Diraja Major General (Rtd) Pengiran Haji Ibnu Basit told YB Pehin Orang Kaya Maharaja Kerna Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Yaakub to inform HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah. He conveyed it to HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, who was in a special room, that the ceremony was ready to begin, and HRH agreed for the ceremony to proceed.

The ceremony saw the placement of four candles, presentation of Surat Zikir, Geguling Pillow and Pebarahan positioned in the middle of the ceremonial hall where Pehin-Pehin Khatib, Begawan-Begawan Pehin Khatib and Mudim-Mudim were seated.

The ceremony began with Dikir Syarafil Anam (Dikir Marhaban) and as soon as the Dikir reached the "Ya Habibi" paragraph, 17 cannon shots were fired outside the residence, and at the same time, Pehin Penyurat Awang Maidin, Pehin Penyurat Haji Awang Osman, Pehin Bendahari Haji Awang Abu Bakar and other male representatives entered the ceremonial hall offering 'Anchit' (perfume) in an orderly manner. A doa was read by Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Awang Hj Mustapa soon after the Dikir was completed.

After Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim recited a doa selamat, the four candles, presentation of Surat Zikir, Geguling Pillow and Pebarahan placed on the floor were taken out from the ceremonial hall.

YB Pehin Orang Kaya Maharaja Kerna Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Yaakub went to HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah and informed that the ceremony was successfully performed. HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah then agreed for the ceremony to be closed. - Borneo Bulletin (26 September 2012)