Monday, October 6, 2008
Number queuing to meet and greet HM & Royal Family just shy of 2006 record
OVER 100,000 people were reported to have visited the Istana Nurul Iman throughout the three days that the residential palace was open to the public for the Hari Raya Aidil Fitri celebrations. This year's figure of 101,890 visitors fell shy of the 2006 record, when a total of 102,599 people converged to meet and greet with His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the Royal Family.
Thousands upon thousands of the Sultanate's loyal subjects, expatriates and foreign visitors of all ages flocked through the majestic entrance of the Istana Nurul Iman yesterday as the residential palace welcomed the public for the final day of its Hari Raya open house.
In spite of the presence of stormy clouds still lingering overhead from the previous night's torrential downpour, an eager crowd had already formed within the early morning hours, patiently waiting for their chance to convey their Raya greetings to His Majesty and other members of the Royal Family.
After passing through the registration and security checkpoints, His Majesty's guests were treated with the utmost hospitality as hotel-quality meals and free-flowing beverages were served, while festive music and decorations filled the backdrop to accompany the luxurious buffet.
With happily satisfied stomachs, they then proceeded to line up in the winding queue which spanned through the various halls of the grand palace. Parents stood cradling young children in their arms, while senior citizens were given tentative care and respect while they awaited their turn for a close-up encounter with the benevolent ruler and and the royal entourage.
Police, Fire and Rescue Service officers were on hand to ensure that the queue was orderly and were in the appropriate attire to be in the presence of royalty. The crowd was then ushered to the hall where the public could convey their Raya greetings to His Majesty and the Royal Family.
With a smile, the monarch shared a few words with his adoring public as they each took their turn to shake hands with His Majesty in one of the halls of the Istana Nurul Iman.
Also present to greet the masses were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Malik and His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Mateen as well as other members of His Majesty's immediate family.
Meanwhile in another hall of the Istana, Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha along with Her Royal Highness Pengiran Isteri Azrinaz Mazhar, Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah and other immediate Royal Family members received the female visitors to the palace.
After they each had their opportunity to meet with the Royal Family, the crowd was then directed to a station where goodies, greeting cards and green packets were handed out, in line with the generous mood that Hari Raya brings every year. Yesterday, the number of visitors reached 17,464 people to Istana Nurul Iman in the morning session alone. Some 8,321 visitors registered for the afternoon meet and greet session.
During the third day of the palace's open house last year, some 29,358 people were reported to have attended the event. In 2007, a total of 95,669 people showed up over the three days that the Istana was open to the public during Hari Raya. In the previous years, it was not unusual to find that the number of visitors surpassed 40,000 each day.
Truly an experience unique to the Sultanate, the Hari Raya open house at the Istana Nurul Iman is one of the much anticipated highlights of the year. Visitors, both local and foreign, throng to the palace annually to personally meet with the ruler of the nation, an opportunity considered rare in most countries. (ODM1)
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