Lyna Mohamad
The Istiadat Membuka Gendang Jaga-Jaga ceremony, opening ceremony for the royal court musicians to play traditional music, was held at Lapau in the capital yesterday as a curtain raiser for the royal wedding for the daughter of 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, Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah to Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar ibni His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince as representative of His Majesty attended the event showcasing the uniqueness and beauty of the Bruneian royal heritage.
His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen were also present.
The royal entourage was welcomed by Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Setia Diraja Sahibul Karib Pengiran Anak Haji Idris bin Pengiran Maharaja Lela Pengiran Muda Abdul Kahar and Dato Paduka Awang Razali.
The ceremony began with Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohd Yusof informing Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Setia Diraja Sahibul Karib Pengiran Anak Haji Idris that Istiadat Membuka Gendang Jaga-Jaga ceremony is ready to proceed.
Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Setia Diraja Sahibul Karib Pengiran Anak Haji Idris then informed His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah that the ceremony is ready to begin.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah signalled for the ceremony to commence and Juru Laki Haji Johan Areffen bin Hassan headed to the patarana, or royal dais, to lift the nakara – a kind of a kettledrum – and bore it on his head.
Juru Laki Haji Johan Areffen then placed the nakara between two gendang labik. The nakara was beaten rhythmically followed by the drumming of gendang labik. Then the serunai played accompanied by gong and chanang with 21 shots of the cannon.
This was followed by gendang alih-alihan tengah and gendang alih-alihan hujung followed by gendang perang drumbeats.
The drumbeat was according to the attendees. When Wazirs, Pengiran-Pengiran Cheteria and Pengiran-Pengiran Peranakan are present, the nakara is beaten 10 times while drumbeats for Pehin Manteri Berchiri is beaten 10 times without the nakara.
The ceremony continued with State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned reading Doa Selamat.
This was followed by Juru Laki Haji Johan Areffen bearing the nakara on his head and returning it to its position on the royal dais.
Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan then informed Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Setia Diraja Sahibul Karib Pengiran Anak Haji Idris that Istiadat Membuka Gendang Jaga-Jaga ceremony has been carried out.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah was then informed by Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Setia Diraja Sahibul Karib Pengiran Anak Haji Idris that the ceremony was duly carried out.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah then instructed Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan to present a kurnia of a team of Gendang Jaga-Jaga to His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah then left the ceremony.
Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan then had an audience with His Majesty to inform the monarch that Istiadat Membuka Gendang Jaga-Jaga has been duly carried out.
Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan then led a delegation made up of Begawan-Begawan Mudim and Juru Laki with a kurnia team Gendang Jaga-Jaga to the royal groom’s residence at Assana’, Jerudong.
