Big Crowd Awaits Royal Couple In Belait
By Liza Mohd

Kuala Belait - More than 5,000 people thronged the Padang Bandaran Kuala Belait yesterday morning to pay tribute to the Royal Couple, HRH Crown Prince Pg Muda Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah and HRH Paduka Seri PgAnak Isteri PgAnak Sarah at a get-together and kesyukuran ceremonies.

Accompanying the Royal Couple were HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah and Datin Hjh Faizah, HRH Prince Abdul Azim, HRH Prince Abdul Malek, HRH Prince Abdul Mateen, HRH Princess Hill Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah and YAM Pg Maharaja Setia Diraja Laila Sahibul Irshad Pg Anak Hj Abdul Rahim.

Also present during the ceremony were Pengiran Cheterias, ministers, deputy ministers, Pehin-Pehin, Pengiran-Pengiran,

Dato-Dato, parents of HRH Paduka Seri Pg Anak Isteri Pg Anak Sarah and other government officials.

Upon arrival at the Jalan Maulana Helipad, the Royal Couple and the entourage were greeted by the Minister and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Permanent Secretaries and respective spouses who then led the Royal Couple to the Dewan Santap.

Later the Royal Couple boarded a special vehicle for a motorcade procession. Thousands of people lined up along the route from Dewan Santap to Padang Bandaran had the opportunity to greet the Royal Couple.

Participants escorting the motorcade during the procession carried wedding accessories and decorations such as Sirih Junjung, Dian Tunggal, Bunga Dian, Bunga Telur and Gangsa.

As the procession entered the Padang Bandaran, the Royal Couple was greeted with the sound of hadrah beating and tossing of 'bunga rampai' along the path leading to the royal dais.

HRH Paduka Seri Pg Anak Isteri Pg Anak Sarah was presented with a pesambah bunga (bouquet). The Royal Couple watched various field performances by citizens and residents of the district to welcome them.

Before the field performances, the Belait District Officer in his welcoming remarks expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Royal Couple for gracing the event.

He also conveyed a congratulatory message on the Majlis Bersanding, which was a significant moment in the history of Brunei.

He added that the joy of the rakyat and residents in the Belait District has been manifested through the motorcade procession and field performances comprising Mukim/Kampong Consultative Council members, associations, school and college students and private companies.

The Royal Couple then watched the field performances involving 1,200 participants such as Tarian Junjung Sirih, Silat Pangantin, Ngajat Beramai, Joget Ria and traditional classic wedding songs.

The 40-minute field performance ended with a formation movement to create space for the junj ung ziarah between the Royal Couple and the rakyat.

Few tents were erected around the Padang Bandaran to shelter members of the public from the blistering heat. The Royal Couple were led to the tents and the public took the opportunity to shake hands with the Royal Couple and the entourage.

At one of the tents, the Belait District Tiong Hua community had put up a special exhibition of traditional Chinese wedding carriage and chairs where the Royal Couple sat and viewed the carriage during the junjung ziarah with the rakyat.

The junjung ziarah marked the end of the memorable ceremony. The royalty were then led to the Dewan Santap.

The colourful performances by residents in the Belait District yesterday reflected their joy and happiness for the Royal Couple.

To further celebrate the Royal Couple's visit to the district, a free concert - Konsert Malam Simpulan Kasih - will be held at the Grandstand Stage of Padang Bandaran September 18, featuring Malaysian artiste Erra Fazira and the group KRU.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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