Bandar Seri Begawan - A total of 15 babies born on the first clay of Muharram 1434 Hijrah were celebrated yesterday in a ceremony held at the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital.

In the Brunei-Muara District, a total of four baby boys and seven baby girls were born on one of the most auspicious days on the Islamic calendar, which fell on Wednesday evening.

Meanwhile, another two babies were born at the Jerudong Park Medical Centre and four babies were born in the Belait District. However, no births were recorded in the Tutong and Temburong Districts on that day.

Proud parents of the 11 babies in the Brunei-Muara District yesterday gathered at the lobby area of the RIPAS Hospital to meet with the sponsors who had generously contributed to the children's future, along with a number of senior government officers who were present to celebrate the joyous occasion.

The guests of honour at the ceremony were the Minister of Religious Affairs, Pg Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohammad bin Pg Hj Abdul Rahman and spouse; and the Minister of Health, Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Mohd Yusof and spouse.

Also present were Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources in his capacity as Chairman of Bank Islam Brunei Darussalarn Berhad (BIBD); Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Yusoff bin Hj Ismail, the Deputy Minister of Education in his capacity as Chairman of Perbadanan Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB); and Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Major General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Awg Hj Mohammad bin Hj Daud, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Syarikat Takaful Brunei Darussalam Sdn Bhd and its subsidiaries. Also present at the event were their spouses.

At the event, each of the babies received a B$100 voucher and a hamper filled with baby essentials that were presented by the Minister of Religious Affairs; a B$200 Alaiku Savings Account and a $50 hamper contributed by Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam Berhad; a $250 participating voucher for the Takaful Nur Savings and a family portrait sponsored by Syarikat Takaful Brunei Darussalam Sdn Bhd; and a SiManja Saving's Account worth $300 contributed by Perbadanan Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB).

The Bulletin also approached some of the proud parents who were feted at yesterday's ceremony.

Dyg Saprinah binti Sapar was the first lucky mother on the auspicious day, delivering her third child, Mohammad Sajid bin Bidin who weighed 2.76kg, at 7.46pm. During the interview, Dyg Saprinah shared her joy and blessings of being lucky enough to deliver the baby at the same time that Muslims throughout the world welcomed the new year in the Muslim calendar.

Meanwhile, Sit Nazirah binti Abdul Salleh, 34, who also delivered her third baby girl, also expressed her happiness. She delivered her baby via a C-section.

It was also a joyous occasion for the parents of the four babies born at the Suri Seri Begawan Hospital in the Belait District on the 1st of Muharram. The newborns - two boys and two girls - were delivered at the Suri Seri Begawan Hospital between the start of the Maghrib prayer or sunset on the first of Muharram until before the sun set the following day (Thursday).

The birth of the newborns was celebrated regardless of religion and race and the babies were rewarded with cash, saving accounts and hampers. A prize giving ceremony was held yesterday, organised by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in collaboration with the Belait District Office, Ministry of Health, Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam Berhad (BIBD), Perbadanan Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB) and Syarikat Takaful Brunei Darussalam Sdn Bhd (STBD).

Dyg Noraini binti Hj Mohd Yusof, 39 a proud mother from Kg Pandan 7 delivered her sixth child - a baby girl weighing 3.09kg - at 10.30pm on Wednesday and was the first baby born in the district on the first day of 1434 Hijrah.

Meanwhile Lam Lee Meng, 29, delivered a baby boy weighing 3.835kg at 3.44am Thursday, while Dyg Sukmawati Dewi binti Masduki, 24, delivered a baby girl weighing 2.335kg at 1.20pm. Dyg Nelianna marked the delivery of the last of the Hijrah babies with the birth of a baby boy weighing 2.900kg at 543pm on Thursday.

The guest of honour to present hampers courtesy of the Ministry of Religious Affairs was Dato Paduka Dr Hj Affendy bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Awg Hj Abidin, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs and spouse, Datin Dr Hjh Sabrina binti Abdul Azim Lim.

Presenting gifts on behalf of the respective banks were Hj Suhaimi bin Pehin Dato Hj Jaya, the General Manager of Corporate Banking Division, BIBD; Hj Kalong bin Hj Hussin, Head of Compliance (TAIB); and Hj Awg Mohammad Rafie bin Hj Awg Damit, the Corporate Representative and also the Assistant General Manager, STBD.