Rokiah Mahmud
The young generation is said to be lucky because they have had the opportunity to witness a royal wedding ceremony rich in with culture, customs and traditions.
The ceremony not only reflects Brunei’s heritage, but also displays the intricacy, splendour and glory passed down from past generations.
The royal wedding of Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar ibni His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah had left not only the locals in awe, but also foreign guests with its majestic moments.
Okouchi Hiroshi, a Japanese national who has been living in the Sultanate for 17 years, told the Weekend that he had learnt a lot about the traditions of a Bruneian royal wedding.
“The wedding had many procedures that are worth watching, especially when the royal bride and groom were seated together. It was a happy moment.
“The values and customs of the Bruneian culture exhibited during the royal wedding ceremony reflected the uniqueness and richness of Brunei’s well-preserved customs,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ugandan Deus Byamugisha said it was his first time witnessing a royal wedding, which he found to be mesmerising and different from the one in his home country.
“It was a new experience for me. It was very different from what we’re used to seeing. We were very lucky to witness the intricate customs and cultural values displayed throughout the ceremony,” he said.
Jerome Dion and his partner Xavier, who work for French television channel M6, were among the members of foreign media who were in the country to cover the royal wedding.
According to Dion, M6 is one of the largest networks in France, and being able to visit the Sultanate and cover the royal wedding was a golden opportunity to learn about the ceremony, and interact with the local media.
He said having the opportunity to witness the various ceremonies featured in the royal wedding was eye-opeing.
“It shows how the traditions and customs of a country have been preserved for centuries,” said Dion. “We saw a lot of traditions as well as protocols being practised. It was beautiful, especially for those of us from a European country.
“I think the way the Bruneian traditions are practised incorporated with Islamic values is unique, enhanced by the beautiful love story between the royal bride and groom.”
Dion added, “Through the costumes worn during the royal wedding, we could see how well the tradition is respected, how guests have ample knowledge on what to wear, where to sit; all were done in sequences.
“Here in Brunei, not only can you see the culture and traditions being practised during the royal wedding, but how the ceremony was conducted was also unique.”
Dion shared that he had the opportunity to witness a ceremony involving the British royal family.
“In Brunei, not only can you see a totally different culture, but also the way people dress, with each attire showing status or seniority in any given event.
“It shows the strong bonds between the monarch and the people of Brunei – a country that represents centuries of traditions,” he said.
