Lyna Mohamad & Adib Noor
The Istiadat Berbedak Pengantin Diraja ceremony or the Royal Powdering ceremony was held at Balai Singgahsana Indera Buana, Istana Nurul Iman last night showcasing Brunei Darussalam’s centuries-old royal traditions and customs.
The ceremony was among the highlights of the royal wedding between Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar ibni His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam graced the ceremony.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah binti Pengiran Haji Bolkiah; and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen were present.
His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Bini Hajah Faizah binti Dato Haji Nasir; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Norhayati binti Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahman were also in attendance.
Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam were also in attendance.
On arrival of Their Majesties, a permission was sought to begin the Istiadat Berbedak Pengantin Diraja ceremony.
Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohd Yusof informed Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Setia Diraja Sahibul Karib Pengiran Anak Haji Idris bin Pengiran Maharaja Lela Pengiran Muda Abdul Kahar that the ceremony was ready to begin, who then informed His Majesty before the monarch consented to the commencement of the Istiadat Berbedak Pengantin Diraja for the royal bride.
After receiving consent from His Majesty, Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah walked into the Balai Singgahsana Indera Buana, dressed in traditional wedding costume called sepengadak merah and regalia and was flanked by Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna.
The royal bride was preceded by 40 Awang-Awang carrying the sinipit or spears, followed by Juru Bini Hajah Rokiah and a Hulubalang Diraja carrying the pemuras and karga, as well as a Hulubalang Asgar carrying the kelasak and kampilan.
A Dian Tunggal was carried by Dayang-Dayang ahead of Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, accompanied by Pehin Jawatan Bini Datin Paduka Hajah Siti.
As soon as Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah was seated at the royal dais, Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Adanan informed Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Setia Diraja Sahibul Karib Pengiran Anak Haji Idris that the Istiadat Berbedak Pengantin Diraja ceremony was ready to proceed.
After Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Setia Diraja Sahibul Karib Pengiran Anak Haji Idris informed His Majesty that the proceedings were ready to commence, the monarch gave his consent for the ceremony to proceed.
Once the Dikir Syarafil Anam (Dikir Marhaban) began, His Majesty was invited to lead the ceremony of Menculiki Bedak Diraja on Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, followed by 17 cannon shots indicating the start of the Istiadat Berbedak Pengantin Diraja ceremony for the royal bride. The ceremony was next performed by Her Majesty.
The Menculiki Bedak Diraja then followed with His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.
Next to do the powder anointing were His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Bini Hajah Faizah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Norhayati.
Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam and Datin Paduka Seri Dayang Hajah Mariam binti Haji Abdul Aziz also took part in the ceremony.
State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned read the Doa Selamat followed by Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Adanan informing Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Setia Diraja Sahibul Karib Pengiran Anak Haji Idris that the Istiadat Berbedak ceremony for the royal bride was duly carried out and His Majesty was informed.
After His Majesty consented for Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah to leave the Balai Singgahsana Indera Buana with the entourage, Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Adanan then informed Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Setia Diraja Sahibul Karib Pengiran Anak Haji Idris that the ceremony for the royal bridegroom was ready to begin and His Majesty was informed the proceedings were ready to commence.
Following the consent from His Majesty, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar then walked into the Balai Singgahsana Indera Buana, also dressed in sepengadak merah and regalia and flanked by Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Abdul Hakeem.
As soon as the royal groom was seated at the royal dais, Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Adanan informed Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Setia Diraja Sahibul Karib Pengiran Anak Haji Idris that the Istiadat Berbedak Pengantin Diraja ceremony was ready to proceed.
Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Setia Diraja Sahibul Karib Pengiran Anak Haji Idris then informed His Majesty that the proceedings were ready to commence and the monarch gave his consent for the ceremony to proceed.
Once the Dikir Syarafil Anam (Dikir Marhaban) began, His Majesty was invited to lead the Menculiki Bedak Diraja ceremony on Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar, followed by 17 cannon shots indicating the start of the Istiadat Berbedak Pengantin Diraja for the royal groom. It was followed by Her Majesty, who sprinkled the seven-coloured powder on the palm of the groom.
The Menculiki Bedak Diraja then followed with His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.
Next to do the powder anointing were His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Bini Hajah Faizah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Norhayati.
Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam and Datin Paduka Seri Dayang Hajah Mariam also took part in the ceremony.
The State Mufti read a Doa Selamat followed by Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Adanan informing Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Setia Diraja Sahibul Karib Pengiran Anak Haji Idris that the Istiadat Berbedak ceremony for the royal bridegroom was duly carried out and His Majesty was informed.
His Majesty then consented for Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar to leave the Balai Singgahsana Indera Buana accompanied by Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Abdul Hakeem.
Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Adanan then informed Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Setia Diraja Sahibul Karib Pengiran Anak Haji Idris that the Istiadat Berbedak Pengantin Diraja has been duly carried out.
Their Majesties then left the Balai Singgahsana Indera Buana followed by the royal entourage.
