Wedding of Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Jetsun Pema
Encyclopedia
The wedding of Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, King of Bhutan, and Jetsun Pema took place on 13 October 2011 at the Punakha Dzong
in Punakha
, Bhutan
. The current King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, married Jetsun Pema
, a commoner, who became Queen Jetsun Pema.
on 20 May 2011.
and nuptials. Ahead of the ceremony, the betrothed received the blessings of the machhen (holy relic) of Shabdrung
Ngawang Namgyal
. The traditional Buddhist
ceremony began around 8:20 am, the time set by royal astrologers - when the king, wearing the royal yellow sash, walked into the courtyard of the 17th-century monastery in the old capital of Punakha and proceeded up the high staircase inside. A few minutes later, his 21-year-old bride arrived at the end of a procession of red-robed monks and flag bearers across a wooden footbridge over the wide, blue river beside the fort. The ceremony was held in two locations, one was presided over by the Je Khenpo
for the Zhabdrung Dag Nangma prayer, the other was attended by Dorji Lopon and 100 monks reciting Tshepa Mey prayers. The King then received the Dar Na Nga, five silk scarves in the five auspicious colors, as well as the Raven Crown
of the Wangchuck Dynasty
. He then received another Dar Na Nga for his bride and bestowed it on her, along with the crown of the Druk Gyal-tsuen. This was followed by a formal proclamation of Ashi Jetsun Pema Wangchuck as the Queen of Bhutan.
The proclamation was followed by the Tashi Ngasoel ceremony at the Grand Kuenra, again presided by the Je Khenpo
. During this ceremony, the Je Khenpo chanted the Ngoedrup Langwa prayers for the accumulation of spiritual and worldly virtues. Following this ceremony, representatives of civil and religious authority presented the King and Queen symbolic gifts. At the conclusion of the ceremony, a traditional presentation of felicitations (Dzongkha: tashi lekdar) was followed by a public celebration in Punakha.
The main ceremony took place at the Punakha Dzong
, meaning Palace of Bliss, the second largest dzong
structure in Bhutan. The Punakha Dzong has served as a fortress and Buddhist monastery. The building, which can be accessed by a footbridge, has been renovated and repainted for the ceremony. The Punakha Dzong's gardens have also been replanted.
and can take months to complete, as her wedding gown. She wore a light yellow tego
and a kira colored red, yellow, green and white, along with red earrings to match her red wonju
.
The King wore a rose patterned yellow silk gho, the very same gho his father and grandfather had worn at their weddings.
s and other high level officials sat on the opposite side. To prevent chaos, the dzong and its entrances were closed to the public.
Confirmed guests included:
declared 13–15 October 2011 a national holiday
as part of wedding celebrations. Festivities on the wedding day featured traditional offerings song and dance, archery
, a public luncheon of rice with scrambled eggs and potato (kewa datse), and congratulatory salutations (tashi lekdar) from public officials and ordinary onlookers who met the King and Queen face to face.
On 14 October, the King and Queen made their way from Punakha
to Thimphu
, where streets and buildings had undergone thorough repair and decoration with five-colored scarves, portraits of the royal couple, and lights to illuminate the city at night. Schoolchildren and townsfolk lined the main street of Thimphu as the King and Queen passed into town.
King Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema will appear at a public celebration held at the Changlimithang Stadium
in Thimpu on 16 October 2011, three days after their wedding.
and Thailand
. The government bussed the foreign media in eleven mini-buses from their headquarters in Thimpu to Punakha, where the wedding took place.
Television only became available in Bhutan in 1999. Bhutan's state television broadcaster, Bhutan Broadcasting Service
, launched its most extensive coverage ever conducted for an event.
and Laxmi, associated with royalty. In return, they donated money for a new Hindu temple near Kuenselphodrang and for the Hindu community of Bhutan
.
in the Indian state of Rajasthan
, beginning on 23 October 2011. The couple will travel through Rajasthan aboard a train chartered by the government of India. The King had previously visited Ranthambore, Rajasthan, in October 2010.
Punakha Dzong
The Punakha Dzong, also known as Pungtang Dechen Photrang Dzong is the administrative centre of Punakha dzongkhag in Punakha, Bhutan. Constructed by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1637–38, it is the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan and one of its most majestic structures...
in Punakha
Punakha
thumb|right|Punakha Dzong and the [[Mo Chhu]]Punakha is the administrative centre of Punakha dzongkhag, one of the 20 districts of Bhutan. Punakha was the capital of Bhutan and the seat of government until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu. It is about 72 km away from Thimphu and it...
, Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
. The current King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, married Jetsun Pema
Jetsun Pema
Jetsun Pema is the sister of the 14th Dalai Lama.-Biography:Jetsun Pema was born in Lhasa, on July 7, 1940. She came to India in 1950 and studied first at St. Joseph's Convent in Kalimpong and later at Loreto Convent in Darjeeling from where she completed her Senior Cambridge in 1960...
, a commoner, who became Queen Jetsun Pema.
Engagement
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck announced his engagement to 20 year-old Jetsun Pema at the opening of the Parliament of BhutanParliament of Bhutan
The Parliament of Bhutan consists of the King of Bhutan together with a bicameral parliament.Constitution: Art. 1, § 3; Art. 10 This bicameral parliament is made up of an upper house, the National Council and a lower house, the National Assembly.Constitution: Art. 11; Art...
on 20 May 2011.
Ceremony
The royal nuptial ceremony (Dzongkha: Gyal Tsuen Tashi Ngasoel) combined coronationCoronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
and nuptials. Ahead of the ceremony, the betrothed received the blessings of the machhen (holy relic) of Shabdrung
Shabdrung
Shabdrung , was a title used when referring to or addressing great lamas in Tibet, particularly those who held a hereditary lineage...
Ngawang Namgyal
Ngawang Namgyal
Ngawang Namgyal was a Tibetan Buddhist lama and the unifier of Bhutan as a nation state...
. The traditional Buddhist
Buddhist view of marriage
The Buddhist view of marriage considers marriage a secular affair and as such, it is not considered a sacrament. Buddhists are expected to follow the civil laws regarding marriage laid out by their respective governments....
ceremony began around 8:20 am, the time set by royal astrologers - when the king, wearing the royal yellow sash, walked into the courtyard of the 17th-century monastery in the old capital of Punakha and proceeded up the high staircase inside. A few minutes later, his 21-year-old bride arrived at the end of a procession of red-robed monks and flag bearers across a wooden footbridge over the wide, blue river beside the fort. The ceremony was held in two locations, one was presided over by the Je Khenpo
Je Khenpo
The Je Khenpo , formerly called the Dharma Raj by orientalists, is the title given to the senior religious hierarch of Bhutan. His primary duty is to lead the Dratshang Lhentshog of Bhutan, which oversees the Central Monastic Body, and to arbitrate on matters of doctrine, assisted by lopons...
for the Zhabdrung Dag Nangma prayer, the other was attended by Dorji Lopon and 100 monks reciting Tshepa Mey prayers. The King then received the Dar Na Nga, five silk scarves in the five auspicious colors, as well as the Raven Crown
Raven Crown
The Raven Crown is worn by the Kings of Bhutan. It is a hat surmounted by the head of a raven.-History:...
of the Wangchuck Dynasty
House of Wangchuck
The House of Wangchuck has ruled Bhutan since it was reunified in 1907. Prior to reunification, the Wangchuck family had governed the district of Trongsa as descendants of Dungkar Choji. They eventually overpowered other regional lords and earned the favour of the British Empire...
. He then received another Dar Na Nga for his bride and bestowed it on her, along with the crown of the Druk Gyal-tsuen. This was followed by a formal proclamation of Ashi Jetsun Pema Wangchuck as the Queen of Bhutan.
The proclamation was followed by the Tashi Ngasoel ceremony at the Grand Kuenra, again presided by the Je Khenpo
Je Khenpo
The Je Khenpo , formerly called the Dharma Raj by orientalists, is the title given to the senior religious hierarch of Bhutan. His primary duty is to lead the Dratshang Lhentshog of Bhutan, which oversees the Central Monastic Body, and to arbitrate on matters of doctrine, assisted by lopons...
. During this ceremony, the Je Khenpo chanted the Ngoedrup Langwa prayers for the accumulation of spiritual and worldly virtues. Following this ceremony, representatives of civil and religious authority presented the King and Queen symbolic gifts. At the conclusion of the ceremony, a traditional presentation of felicitations (Dzongkha: tashi lekdar) was followed by a public celebration in Punakha.
Venue
Punakha Dzong
The Punakha Dzong, also known as Pungtang Dechen Photrang Dzong is the administrative centre of Punakha dzongkhag in Punakha, Bhutan. Constructed by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1637–38, it is the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan and one of its most majestic structures...
, meaning Palace of Bliss, the second largest dzong
Dzong architecture
Dzong architecture is a distinctive type of fortress architecture found in the present and former Buddhist kingdoms of the Himalayas: Bhutan and Tibet...
structure in Bhutan. The Punakha Dzong has served as a fortress and Buddhist monastery. The building, which can be accessed by a footbridge, has been renovated and repainted for the ceremony. The Punakha Dzong's gardens have also been replanted.
Wedding attire
The wedding featured traditional Bhutanese attire. The bride, Jetsun Pema, had ordered several elaborate kiras, the national dress for Bhutanese women, from among prominent weavers in the country. Pema chose one of these kiras, which are woven from raw silkRaw Silk
Raw Silk was an American dance band, originated in New York. Raw Silk is best known for their garage-boogie song "Do It to the Music". The group is consisted of two Crown Heights Affair members, Ron Dean Miller and Bert Reid, and three female vocalists Jessica Cleaves, Sybil Thomas, Tenita Jordan...
and can take months to complete, as her wedding gown. She wore a light yellow tego
Toego
A toego is a long sleeved, short jacket-like garment worn over a kira by women in Bhutan. The toego is thus part of the national dress of Bhutan, along with the kira dress and wonju undershirt....
and a kira colored red, yellow, green and white, along with red earrings to match her red wonju
Wonju (Bhutan)
A wonju is a long-sleeved blouse worn by women in Bhutan. Made of silk, polyester, or lightweight cotton, it is worn underneath the kira, part of the national costume under the driglam namzha.-References:...
.
The King wore a rose patterned yellow silk gho, the very same gho his father and grandfather had worn at their weddings.
Guests
The guests were predominantly members of Bhutan's royal family, the House of Wangchuk, government officials, friends of the royal family, and the press. There were no foreign royals or heads of state in attendance, however Indian dignitaries and ordinary Westerners were among the guests of the royal family. During the ceremony, family guests sat on one side of the hall, while tulkuTulku
In Tibetan Buddhism, a tulku is a particular high-ranking lama, of whom the Dalai Lama is one, who can choose the manner of his rebirth. Normally the lama would be reincarnated as a human, and of the same sex as his predecessor. In contrast to a tulku, all other sentient beings including other...
s and other high level officials sat on the opposite side. To prevent chaos, the dzong and its entrances were closed to the public.
Confirmed guests included:
- Rahul GandhiRahul GandhiRahul Gandhi is an Indian politician and member of the parliament of India, representing the Amethi constituency. His political party is the Indian National Congress.-Early life and career:...
, General Secretary of the Indian National CongressIndian National CongressThe Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. - Jigme Singye WangchuckJigme Singye WangchuckJigme Singye Wangchuck is the former King of Bhutan. He was the fourth Dragon King of Bhutan from 1972 until his abdication in favour of his eldest son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, in 2006...
, former King of Bhutan - M. K. Narayanan, Governor of West BengalGovernor of West BengalThe Governor of West Bengal is a nominal head and representative of the President of India in the state of West Bengal. The Governor is appointed by the President for a term of five years. H.E. Mayankote Kelath Narayanan is the current governor...
- Jyotiraditya Madhavrao ScindiaJyotiraditya Madhavrao ScindiaMaharaja Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia is an Indian politician belonging to the Indian National Congress. He is also a member of the 15th Lok Sabha of India representing the Congress party and a Minister of State, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Mr...
, Indian Minister of Commerce and IndustryMinistry of Commerce and Industry (India)The Ministry of Commerce and Industry administers two departments, the Department of Commerce and the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion. The head of the Ministry is a Minister of Cabinet rank... - Pavan K Varma, Ambassador of India to Bhutan
Public celebration
The Ministry of Home and Cultural AffairsMinistry of Home and Cultural Affairs
The Bhutanese Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs is the government ministry within the Lhengye Zhungtshog which oversees law and order; the civil administration; immigration services; the issuance of citizenship documents, and other related documents; the...
declared 13–15 October 2011 a national holiday
Public holidays in Bhutan
Public holidays in Bhutan consist of both national holidays and local festivals called tsechus. While national holidays are observed throughout Bhutan, tsechus are only observed in their areas. Bhutan uses its own calendar, a variant of the lunisolar Tibetan calendar. Because it is a lunisolar...
as part of wedding celebrations. Festivities on the wedding day featured traditional offerings song and dance, archery
Archery in Bhutan
Archery in Bhutan is the national sport of the Kingdom. Archery was declared the national sport in 1971, when Bhutan became a member of the United Nations. Since then, the popularity of Bhutanese archery has increased both within and without Bhutan, with a measure of government promotion...
, a public luncheon of rice with scrambled eggs and potato (kewa datse), and congratulatory salutations (tashi lekdar) from public officials and ordinary onlookers who met the King and Queen face to face.
On 14 October, the King and Queen made their way from Punakha
Punakha
thumb|right|Punakha Dzong and the [[Mo Chhu]]Punakha is the administrative centre of Punakha dzongkhag, one of the 20 districts of Bhutan. Punakha was the capital of Bhutan and the seat of government until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu. It is about 72 km away from Thimphu and it...
to Thimphu
Thimphu
Thimphu also spelt Thimpu, is the capital and largest city of Bhutan. It is situated in the western central part of Bhutan and the surrounding valley is one of Bhutan's dzongkhags, the Thimphu District. The city became the capital of Bhutan in 1961...
, where streets and buildings had undergone thorough repair and decoration with five-colored scarves, portraits of the royal couple, and lights to illuminate the city at night. Schoolchildren and townsfolk lined the main street of Thimphu as the King and Queen passed into town.
King Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema will appear at a public celebration held at the Changlimithang Stadium
Changlimithang Stadium
Changlimithang Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan, which serves as the National Stadium. It is currently used mostly for football and archery matches. The stadium holds 25,000...
in Thimpu on 16 October 2011, three days after their wedding.
Media coverage
The royal wedding and related celebrations is an unprecedented event in Bhutan. Dasho Kinley, Bhutan's Secretary of Information and Communications, told journalists that the royal wedding was Bhutan's largest media event in history, "We've not really done this before ... In fact, this is the biggest international media event we've ever had in Bhutan – ever." Approximately 160 foreign journalists and other members of the media arrived in the country to cover the wedding. The largest groups of journalists came from IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. The government bussed the foreign media in eleven mini-buses from their headquarters in Thimpu to Punakha, where the wedding took place.
Television only became available in Bhutan in 1999. Bhutan's state television broadcaster, Bhutan Broadcasting Service
Bhutan Broadcasting Service
The Bhutan Broadcasting Service is the national radio and television service in Bhutan. A public service corporation, it is fully funded by the State and it is currently the only service to offer both radio and television to the Kingdom, and is the only television service to broadcast from inside...
, launched its most extensive coverage ever conducted for an event.
Hindu ceremony
On 17 October, royal couple celebrated a Hindu marriage ceremony and was received by the head of the Hindu community (Hindu Samudaya), Dasho Meg Raj Gurung, and hundreds of Bhutanese Hindus. After exchanging garlands, lighting butter lamps, and offering prayers, the King and Queen received statues of VishnuVishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
and Laxmi, associated with royalty. In return, they donated money for a new Hindu temple near Kuenselphodrang and for the Hindu community of Bhutan
Hinduism in Bhutan
Mahayana Buddhism is the state religion, and Hindus have been actively persecuted as a minority, including ethnic cleansing of 100,000 Hindu minorities who presently live as refugees in Nepal...
.
Honeymoon
The King and Queen Consort are expected to honeymoonHoneymoon
-History:One early reference to a honeymoon is in Deuteronomy 24:5 “When a man is newly wed, he need not go out on a military expedition, nor shall any public duty be imposed on him...
in the Indian state of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, beginning on 23 October 2011. The couple will travel through Rajasthan aboard a train chartered by the government of India. The King had previously visited Ranthambore, Rajasthan, in October 2010.