Wedding of HRH Dasho Jigme Dorji Wangchuk

Thousands of well-wishers gathered at the Domkhar Tashichoeling Palace in Bumthang on October 17, to witness the wedding of HRH Dasho Jigme Dorji Wangchuk to Yeatso Lhamo.

HRH Dasho Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, 27, is the younger brother of HM Druk Gyalpo Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk.

Yeatso Lhamo is the eldest sister of Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema, the 23-year-old Queen of Bhutan.

Unlike the white weddings of the world outside Bhutan, weddings in Bhutan - particularly royal weddings - are filled with ceremonial rites:

~ The royal bride arrived at the palace in a chipdrel procession..
~ Sungtrul Rinpoche performed the Throe-Soel ceremony..
~ A marching ceremony by the Bumthang Dzongda follows..
~ Tashi-ngasoel ceremony presided over by His Holiness the Je Khenpo..
~ Chanting of the Ngoe-drup-langwan for the accumulation of spiritual and worldly virtues..
~ Offering of Tashi-Zegye and Tashi Ta Gye followed by Zhug-drel phuensum tshogpa..
~ Offering of alcohol and milk by a person born in the year of the Dog
~ Concluding with Tashi Moenlam..
~ Granting of Tashi-Lek Dhar by their Majesties, His Holiness, and the Prime Minister. 

Pomp and pageantry ~ we've lost all that (in Singapore)! ..

Cultural programmes, performed by students and locals, celebrates the special occasion.

Photo Credits: BBS

This photo brings back such nostalgia.  Isn't that Ashi Pema Lhaden?  Always cheerful, always graceful.  Really miss Ashi.  Missing Ashi Dechen too.  HRH Prince Namgyal, benefactor of my work permit when I used to work in Bhutan, never seems to age.  I thought I spied Dhendup Gyaltshen on the right?  Haven't seen him since his Druk Air days.  And of course, HP's favourite Crown Prince, current Druk Gyalpo.  And HM Jigme Singye, whom we are forever indebted to, for the grant of the Royal Kidu for my kids' citizenship.

Wishing the royal couple much wedded bliss.