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Rich culture and tradition continue to shower the royal wedding ceremonials at the Majlis Istiadat Berbedak Pengantin Diraja of Her Royal Highness Princess Hjh Hafizah Sururul Bulqiah and Yang Mulia PgHj Muhd Ruzaini Pg Dr Hj Mohd. Yakub in the Indera Buana Throne Hall of Istana Nurul Iman yesterday evening.

Majlis Istiadat Berbedak, or Royal Powdering Ceremony, is a ceremonial function where members of the royal family and family members of the groom “bless” the royal couple by applying seven-coloured powdered paste and scented oils onto the palms of the couple.

Upon the arrival of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam at the InderaBuana Throne Hall with Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha, four candles or DianEmpat were lit followed by the placing of the two-piece yellow cushion known as Kasur Namat between the Dian Empat.

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah (L), the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, just after applying the paste onto the palms of HRH Princess Hjh Hafizah Sururul Bulqiah (R) during the Majlis Istiadat Berbedak Pengantin Diraja at Istana Nurul Iman. Picture: BT/Saifulizam

The ceremony began with Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr Ustaz Hj Mohd Zaininforming Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Hj Abdul Aziz that the Istiadat Berbedak Pengantin Diraja ceremony was set to begin. YAM Pengiran Lela Cheteria SahibunNajabah Pengiran Anak Hj Abdul Aziz then duly conveyed the message to His Majesty.

Following the consent of the monarch, the royal bride was escorted into the Throne Hall by Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hjh Zariah and Her Royal Highness Princess Hjh Masnawith the wives of appointed state dignitaries.

The anticipated arrival of the royal bride was accompanied by a grand entourage made up of 40 Sinipitbearers, or spearmen, along with three Dayang-Dayang holding Payung or umbrella, Kaskol or royal betel caddy wrapped with cloth embroidered with golden thread and Kain Pendukungan.

In the entourage were also seven Pahawai Perempuan or chosen ladies bearing a Puan, a Tarian, aKabok and Panastan, a Kiap, a Chupun, a Pasigupan and a Kaskol.

On His Majesty’s approval to begin the ceremony, a Dikir Marhaban was performed to cue the start of the ceremony and prompting all attendees to stand up.

The ceremony was initiated by His Majesty placing the powdered paste and scented oil onto the palm of the bride. This was followed by Her Majesty and other members of the royal family as well as the parents of the groom.

Outside the Indera Buana Throne Hall, a 17-gun salute went off to signal the start of the ceremony.

After the royal bride’s exit from the hall, it was the groom, Pg Hj Muhd Ruzaini’s turn to take the court to begin the Istiadat Berbedak for the groom.

The groom was escorted by his younger brother, Ak Muhd Tarmizi Pg Dr Hj Mohd Yakub, along with a grand entourage into the Throne Hall.

Pg Hj Muhd Ruzaini was dressed immaculately in traditional Malay wedding attire comprising a gilded two-piece baju Melayu.

Seated on the royal wedding dais, Pg Hj Muhd Ruzaini received “blessings” from His Majesty, followed by Her Majesty with the application of the powdered paste and sprinkling of scented oil onto his palm.

The rest of the royal family followed suit in hierarchical order, with the groom’s parents having the lasthonour.

Following the Majlis Istiadat Berbedak, the royal family and invited guests proceeded to the IstiadatBerjaga-Jaga and religious-orientated performances.

The Istiadat Berjaga-Jaga is an event that calls for the finer observances of royal protocol where guests are treated to a range of traditional games and Malay poetry reading. Text by Low Leng May and Rabiatul Kamit of The Brunei Times.

bFIT audition continues today

A great turn out yesterday as 30 contestants had to go through audition where they had to go through a series of questions by the judges (from Health Promotion Centre, b•mobile and Fitness Zone). The audition took place at Health Promotion Centre. 50 more contestants will be going for the audition today. Only then the judges will select 50 contestants for the actual bFIT program.

For your info, bFIT is similar to the Biggest Loser program. For more info, you can click here. You can follow their updates on instagram @bfitchallenge 

The audition took place at Health Promotion Centre

The registrants getting ready to be screened

The screening area

Audition in progress

Setting up before the next person being interviewed

Judges posing for the camera

Mic test 1, 2, 3…..

Judges from HPC, b•mobile and Fitness Zone

One of the contestants being interviewed

A quick demo was done as well

Recharging for Magic’s 5D Mark III

This was my first coverage of the Royal Wedding and I have skipped a few actually because I was still recovering from fatigue and I had an irritating dry cough which has been itching my throat for the past two days. Anyway, back to the Royal Wedding – last night was the Royal Powdering ceremony that took place at Indera Buana Throne Hall of Istana Nurul Iman.

The Royal Powdering Ceremony lasted an hour or so for both the bride and the groom. I saw tons of familiar faces inside the hall and all I could do is gave a small wave and take photos of them *lol* Today will be the Nikah ceremony which will take place at the Masjid Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien at noon. I shall be there again for coverage.

As for now, enjoy the pictures taken from last night Royal Berbedak ceremony. The images are in chronogolical order 😀

The traditional music being played after the entrance of the Istana

Invited guests need to register themselves before entering the hall

The Royal Family entering the hall to be seated

The Adat Istiadat officials will double check on the sitting arrangements for the Royal Family members

Normally if there’s an empty seat, the chair will be removed

After the arrival of the Royal entourage, they will bring this to the front

The grand entourage was accompanied by 40 Sinipit bearers or spearmen

The guests waiting for the arrival of Her Royal Highness Princess Hafizah

HRH Princess Hafizah was escorted by both her aunties – Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hjh Zariah and Her Royal Highness Princess Hjh Masna

It was great to see smiles from the princess

Brothers hand in hand

HRH Princess Hafizah leaving the Indera Buana Throne Hall

Salute to the bearers for their efforts and being present for the ceremony

Afizan, brother to the groom, on his way to escort the groom into the hall. Afizan and I were housemates back in Brisbane in year 2000.

Smartphones were everywhere to capture the best moments

I see a few tablets too.. This shows how technological savvy we have been regardless of age.

Pengiran Haji Muhammad Ruzaini being escorted before the powder ceremony starts

The prayers after the successful powdering ceremony

The groom leaving the hall to mark the end of the Powdering ceremony

Representatives from the private sector were aplenty

It’s picture time

These are the Head of Kampungs in Brunei

Hellooooo … Fiona 😀

Hello Fina 😀

Yves Grosjean, General Manager of Total, was present too

Who knows one day I might one of my own too

Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr Ustaz Hj Mohd Zain

Royal family exiting the hall

The Ministers and their spouses exiting the hall

Representatives from Sunlit Advertising

Photographers and cameramen at work

My first coverage of the Royal Wedding and I had tricky time reaching there but it was all good in the end.