Dastar of Brunei

Event: A Night of Many Happenings

2009-01-21T16:35:00.002+08:00

Here is a collage showing one of the parade taking places during the period of the His Majesty’s 61st Birthday

The parade is actually of a float competition held witness at Taman Sir Omar Ali Saifuddien. As you can see, it’s all colourful and creatively made.
Fireworks always helps end the eventful night.

Culture: The Tars are Played [Hadrah di Pukul :D]

2009-01-18T19:52:00.010+08:00

The “Bells are ringing”, so they say in the west. The common praise indicating a wedding, here I make use of the same concept except that here in Brunei Darussalam, I wouldn’t say bells since we don’t really use bells but instead I’d say ‘the Tars are played’.

Tars also known as Hadrah in Malay is one of the local traditional musical instrument. Hit at a rhythm by a group of players, in a Bruneian wedding, the Hadrah beaten to accompany the arrival of the groom to by that time his already wife’s resident. Anyway, we are here to familiarize to readers, Brunei Darussalam’s wonderful, traditionally modern and full of heritage wedding.

As any other occasions, Weddings in Brunei brings about the opportunities for families and friends to come together, catch-up with latest news or go down reminiscing memory lane. Laughter is sounded, sweats are perspired, food and drinks shared, memories created and treasured and the very scene of flamboyant decorations, baju kurung and cara melayu just made a wonderful and full exciting atmosphere.

The period of the event varies according to the dates at which both groom’s and bride’s family had decided among them. It also varies with each custom of some of the ethnic group of Brunei, each with a special event during the wedding.

Examples of some of the ethnic group special events:

Melayu Brunei – Adat Ambil-ambilan

It takes place during the night of the ‘majlis persandingan’ at the bride’s place and the groom’s side will bring along trays of food. In the event, the groom will ask his wife to come along with him to the stage also known as ‘pelamin’ and at the pelamin they are prepared with dishes at which the bride and groom romantically feed each other with the their family surrounding them to witness the event.

Melayu Tutong – Adat Basuh kaki

This event takes place after the ‘majlis persandingan’. The groom’s foot is placed upon the bride’s foot and both feet are placed upon a sword usually a parang and its sharpener. The sword sharpener is actually just a block of solid stone also known as batu pengasah in Brunei. One by one the groom’s side of the family gives tributes to the wedded couple and then literally washes their foot by just pouring water onto their foot.

Melayu Belait – Adat Membuka Mulut

Occasionally carried out at the bride’s place at the night of the ‘majlis persandingan’. The event start by having the bride feeding the groom rice using a ‘candas’ and then by the groom doing the same thing all of which is witnessed by the family of both bride and groom.

Anyway, the occasion officially start by the ritual known as ‘merisik’ or ‘jarum-jarum’ at which the-soon-to-be-groom’s representative arrive at the soon-to-be bride’s home to ask the girls availability and if so also request to be allowed to ask her hand in marriage and soon sent a party for the engagement ceremony.

At the ceremony, the groom’s representative brought along gifts known as ‘tanda bertunang’. The ‘tanda bertunang’ usually consist of a ‘pembuka mulut’ ring and an engagement ring. At the occasion the bride’s family will in return give a list of requirements the groom sides need to fulfill and bring along during the ‘antar berian’ event soon.

Pengangun is the person who assist and help the bride and groom. Each have a pengangun of their own, in which they play an important role of offering advice and making sure the traditional rituals are carried out. So during period coming to the majlis persandingan, the pengangun will always be by the bride’s and groom’s side.

The next events are as follow:

· Majlis Berbedak Mandi

Carried out in the morning of the Majlis Akad Nikah, in this event the bride is prepared and pampered and so readied herself for the special event later.

· Antar Berian

This takes place before Majlis Akad Nikah. The event is the exchanging of gifts between the two to-be-wedded couple. Usually the gifts are in odd numbers and the gifts from the groom are first placed in the centre surrounded by the two families to witness. As mentioned before, the required gifts asked during the engagement ceremony must be present as to complete and fulfill the conditions. And usually the gifts will be lead by the ‘Sirih junjungan’ and among the gifts there will be wedding ring, ‘mas kahwin’ and Kain Jongsarat.

· Akad Nikah

This is the most important event in which it is the only event that involves an Islamic ritual rather than the rest of the event which are the traditional Brunei event. Lawfully and according to Islam, both couple will be truly wedded and become husband and wife in Akad Nikah. Though after this event, the groom will return home to pursue his following wedding event at his home.

· Malam berbedak

The bride and groom have this event separately at each other’s own home. Both will be dressed wearing a kain Jongsarat and for the bride, she will be decorated from head to toe with the Bruneian weddings golden jewelry. It is in this occasion that people can really see Brunei’s colourful and rich heritage which is rarely shown.

· Malam Berinai

Takes place at night, this event is the night the bride will colour her hands and feet by using henna or locally known as ‘pacar’. Pacar are actually crushed leaves of a plant and will leave an orange or red colour on your skin for a few days or event weeks.

· Majlis Persandingan

This is the final ceremony of the wedding period. During this event, hundreds and sometimes thousands of invitees will come and together celebrate the special day of the couple and their families. The occasion takes place at the brides home where it will be colourfully decorated, everyone will be busy preparing, and tents will be arranged outside the household with delicious foods ready for guests. The event will start with the guest arrivals ushered by members of the family and the same time the guests are given with gifts usually antiques as their souvenirs of the special day. After a period of time and personal greetings from the bride’s family, the invitees are invited to consumed the prepare dishes. It is then the groom will arrive together with his large party which mainly consists of his family, relatives and friends. His entrance journey into the house will be accompanied by the Hadrah [which is mentioned before]. And finally after a few days of separation, the groom and bride reunite and thus celebrate it with their love ones. For that day only, the wedded couple is called ‘Raja Sehari’' [king of the day]

[Happy days will end happily ever after]

History: His Majesty's early stages

2008-12-03T08:02:00.014+08:00

His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was born on Monday, 15 Sya'aban 1365 corresponding to 15th July 1946 at Istana Darussalam, Kampong Sumbiling, Brunei Town (presently known as Bandar Seri Begawan) at the time when Brunei was governed by British Military Administration.

His Royal Highess was awarded the title of wazir as Pengiran Bendahara Seri Maharaja Permaisuara by Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Akhazul Khairi Waddin on 18th July 1947.

Istana Darussalam bulit by Almarhum Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin

During the time when His Majesty was born, Brunei was experiencing hardship as a result of the Japanese military occupation for almost three and a half years. Hardship, however, was an inspiration and a lesson for His Majesty to prepare himself in leading the country towards development and progress.

His Majesty was given private tuition at the palace, and for formal education, His Majesty studied at Sekolah Melayu Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam, Brunei Town; Victoria Institution, Kuala Lumpur; and Maktab Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien (SOAS college), Brunei town.

Class photo of His Majesty studied at Sekolah Melayu Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam (SM SMJA)

On 14th August 1961, His Majesty was installed as Duli Pengiran Muda Mahkota (The Crown Prince).

Later His Majesty attended a military course at the Royal Military Academy College, Sandhurst, United Kingdom, before His Majesty was installed, as the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam in 1967. This was an early preparation given to His Majesty in equipping himself before shouldering responsibilities as leader of a nation.

The Proclamation Ceremony as the Sultan of Brunei of His Majesty was held at Istana Darul Hana, Brunei Town, on 5th October 1967. It was the comnencing moment of His Majesty's appearance as leader of Brunei Darussalam.

These historical episodes followed the proclamation of His Majest's beloved father, Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, who had vlountarily abdicated from the throne, on the day before; 4th October 1967, at Istana Darul Hana, Brunei Town at 10.00 a.m As stated in the titah of His Majesty's father:

"Warkatul Ikhlas Watahfatuleinas, from my most sincere heart and with the best of intentions, i, Sir, Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, the sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of the State of Brunei, do hereby declare to the citizens and people of Brunei that I hereby declare my intention to the Government, citizens and people of Brunei that on my own free-will am now abdicate from the throne on this day of Wednesday, 1 Rajab 1387, the fourth day of October, 1967 and that is declared intention to abdicate is final and irrevocable.
I would like to emphasis again that my decision to abdicate from the throne has been made on my own free-will"

The translated speech (Titah) of His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Maulana Al-Sultan Sir Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien.

To confirm the situation, Radio Brunei which functioned as a Government media, had explained to the citizens and residents of Brunei Darussalam that Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, according to Chapter 19 of the Proclamation of Succession and the Installation of King 1959, proclamied that the intention of Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien to abdicate from the throne was irrevocable. The Chief Minister, Dato Marsal bin Maun in his message had advised the citizens and residents of the state to always give their undivided loyalty to the new Sultan.

Therefore the Proclamation Ceremony of his Majesty was held at Istana Darul Hana on 5th October 1967, attended by members of the Succession Council, Wazirs, Cheterias, Pehins, the Chief Minister and State Secretary. After the coronation Ceremony His Majesty delivered his first titah:

"Verily with a very disturbed heart and a heartrending shock, my heartfelt thanks to Allah Subhannahu wa Ta'ala, the Al-Mighty, invocation and greetings to the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'Alaihi wa Sallam, and his companions with a sincere and heatwarming acceptance to my dear beloved father Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien, verily y heart however happy and sad as I am by this proclamation, yet there is sorrow for the abdication from the throne of my beloved father, loved by all levels of citizens and the residents of this beloved Brunei Darussalam"

The translated speech (Titah) of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

Nearly a year later, on 1st August 1968, the following Customary Coronation Ceremony was held so as to complete His Majesty's installation as the Sultan and the Ruler of Brunei Darussalam. Before the ceremony, His Majesty's father had arranged a Royal customs and Traditions ceremony, preparing and repairing Royal Regalia to be used in the ceremony. Besides that, the ceremony of bestowing title on stage dignitaries who also performed in this Coronation Ceremony, His Majesty's father placed the crown on His Majesty's head and the 'Keris Si-Naga' was slipped into his waistband as a symbol of sovereignty of a Monarch.

After the Coronation Ceremony at Lapau ended, His Majesty then was celebrated in a royal procession around Brunei Town escorted by His Majesty's father, Wazirs, Cheterias and Pehin Manteries. The Coronation Ceremony is to be held only for the installment of a new Sultan. This historical evidence, the beginning of an era of His Majesty's leadership as a sovereign monarch and caliph of Allah on Brunei Darussalam and performing the duties and responsibilities as a Sultan.

Since 1967 until today, various efforts have been implemented by the Government of His Majesty in caring and taking care the welfare and needs of the citizens as acknowledged by the nation's leader.

On 5th October 1992, the celebration of the Silver Jubliee of the Accession to the Throne of His Majesty was in glorious colourful events.

On 5th October 1992, Bandar Seri Begawan

History: Full independence in 1984

2008-11-30T18:24:00.004+08:00

In May 1983, it was officially announced that the actual date of Brunei independence would be 1 January 1984, ending the ninety-five years of British protection over Brunei.

The ceremony was celebrated in accordance with Brunei's tradition and Islamic practices. A mass Maghrib prayers were held at the mosque in the four districts (Brunei Muara, Tutong, Belait, Temburong) on 31st December 1983.

On 1 January 1984, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, read the proclamation of Full Independence.

The National day is on the 23rd February. In 2008, Brunei had celebrated the 24th years of its full independence.

History: Sultans of Brunei

2008-11-30T17:14:00.005+08:00

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

1. Sultan Muhammad Shah (1363 - 1402)
2. Sultan Ahmad (1408 - 1425)
3. Sultan Sharif Ali (1425 - 1432)
4. Sultan Sulaiman (1432 - 1485)
5. Sultan Bolkiah (1485 - 1524)
6. Sultan Abdul Kahar (1524 - 1530)
Sultan Saiful Rijal (1533 - 1581)
8. Sultan Shah Brunei (1581 - 1582)
9. Sultan Muhammad Hasan (1582 - 1598)
10. Sultan Abdul Jalilul Akbar (1598 - 1659)
11. Abdul Jalilul Jabbar (1659 - 1660)
12. Sultan Haji Muhammad Ali (1660 - 1661)
13. Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin (1661 - 1673)
14. Sultan Muhyiddin (1673 - 1690)
15. Sultan Nasruddin (1690 - 1710)
16. Sultan Husin Kamaluddin (1710 - 1730) (1737 - 1740)
17. Sultan Muhammad Alauddin (1730 - 1737)
18. Sultan Omar Ali Saiffuddin i (1740 - 1795)
19. Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin (1795 - 1804) (1804 - 1807)
20. Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam i (1804)
21. Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam (1807 - 1826)
22. Sultan Muhammad Alam (1826 - 1828)
23. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin ii (1828 - 1852)
24. Sultan Abdul Momin (1852 - 1885)
25. Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin (1885 - 1906)
26. Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam ii (1906 - 1924)
27. Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin (1924 - 1950)
28. Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien iii (1950 - 1967)
29. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (1967 - )

Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien iii

full of kindness.

2008-11-28T20:59:00.003+08:00

Today, i watched with awe how kind and concerned Bruneians are. On my way to my relative, there was an accident. At that time, they already save one of the victims who only sustain a small injury. This required a good team work as the car was in such position that the victims must be pulled out of the car (visual below).

My cousin who was driving us at that time stopped the car at the side road and approached the accident scene to help the victims. When all three victims were pulled out of the car, lots of people went back to their cars.. only to brought back water bottles to be given to the victims.

A few minutes later, firemen and ambulance came. And in case you are wondering, the victims only sustain minor injuries.

This incident shows how concerned Bruneians are. We always try our best to help people in need regardless of who they are.

p.s. sorry for the bad drawing.

History: The Founding Of Brunei

2008-11-28T12:58:00.004+08:00

Long ago in Garang, a place in the Temburong District, lived Awang Alak Betatar and his thirteen brothers. Awang Alak Betatar was chosen by his brothers as their leader because of his intelligence.
One day, Awang Alak Betatar called his brothers for a meeting. In the meeting they had, they decided to move to another place.

A week later, Awang Alak Betatar's brothers, led by Pateh Berbai, began their search. They landed at a site called Butir on the Brunei River.

Pateh Berbai and his brothers went back to tell Awang Alak Betatar the good news. A conference was then held and Awang Alak Betatar agreed to his brothers' suggestion.
Weeks later, Awang Alak Betatar and his brothers sailed together with their followers to establish the new settlement which was to become Brunei Town. When they arrived, they began clearing the bushes and cleaning the area.

Each of Awang Alak Betatar's brothers set up his own house. Soon, more and more people came to settle there and Awang Alak Betatar became the first ruler of Brunei.

History: Written Records of Other Countries

2008-11-27T06:27:00.000+08:00

Chinese traders sailed in ships like this one

Arab merchants on a trading mission

1) P'o-li The Chinese records of the sixth century mention a place called P'o-li on the northwest coast of Borneo.

2) Vijayapura In the seventh century, there was a place called Vijayapura written in the Chinese and Arab records. These writings suggest that Vijayapura was founded by members of the royal family of Funan (An empire which was once occupied southern Cambodia and the southernmost part of Vietnam). They fled when their kingdom was attacked and captured by the people of Chenla. They captured P'o-li and changed its name to Vijayapura as Fo-shin-pu-lo in the Chinese records, while in the Arab writings, the name Sribuza was used by the Arab traders. Historians in Brunei believe that Vijayapura was the first Brunei kingdom. Vijayapura's main activity was trade. Vijayapura exported Camphor and forest produce as the main export. It was visited by the Chinese ans Arabs traders. As Vijayapura thrived on this trade, its extended its control over the coastal areas of northern Borneo and some parts of the islands in the northernmost coast of Borneo (Philipines).

3) Po-ni In 977, instead of using Vijayapura the Chinese reports use the name Pon-ni to refer the Brunei Kingdom. Po-ni was located on Brunei bay. The people living there practised Hinduism and Buddhism. As we know earlier, Po-ni exported good quality camphor. This trade was protected by a navy whose officers were nobles and whose sailors were the Orang Laut (sea nomads). In 1225, a chinese official named Chua Ju-Kua mentioned that Po-ni had more than 100 warships to protect its trade, the king was carried in a litter when he went outside his palace and there was a lot of gold in the kingdom even gold threads were woven into cloth (kain sungkit). From a report dates 1365, Po-ni has become a vassal state of Majapahit and had to pay annual tribute of 40 katis of camphor. In 1369, the Sulus attacked the capital and looted its gold and treasure. Po-ni became weaker after that. A Chinese report in 1371 described Po-ni a spoor. It had lost its empire and was totally controlled by Majapahit.

Camphor trees, their leaves and flowers

Kain Sungkit

The Sulus sailed to Po-ni to raid its treasure

Brief history of Brunei Darussalam

2008-11-26T14:49:00.000+08:00

Barunai derived from the word Barunah! exclaimed by the settlers who reached the Brunei river (now located in the capital), Barunah means "Oh yeah!". It was the classical Malay expression meant excellence of the right settlement, security, access and richness of the surrounding. Barunai, of Sanskrit origin, comes from the word Varuna. In its Malay context, it referred to a nation of seafarers and traders. Brunei and Borneo were among early European references to the state and the island.

The second sultan, Sultan Ahmad, was the first to name 'Brunei' from the word 'Barunah'.

Darussalam, Arabic terms for Abode of Peace, was added in the 15^th century by the third sultan, Sharif Ali, to emphasise Islam as state religion, and to enhance its spread.

Old Brunei was a nation of Malay Hindu-Buddhists, according to a Chinese account of Puli, believed to be an early Chinese reference to Brute Old Brunei was said to have Similar Malay-Hindu Buddhist traditions and customs as Funan or Kumlun, Chinese names for the first Malay state in Indochina during the early Christian era. Indians knew it as Sailendra, and Arab traders called it Kamrun.

The early king of Brunei was called Sang Aji, or Reverend Monarch, a title of Sanskrit origin. The Brunei ruling dynasty changed during the early 1360s when Awang Alak Betatar, a prince from a powerful kingdom in western Borneo, ascended the Brunei throne. He became the first Brunei ruler and the present ruler is his descendant.

Awang Alak Betatar was the first Brunei Raja to accept Islam, changing his title and name to Sultan Muhammad Shah (1363-1402) in honour of the Prophet.

With Islam, Brunei asserted and expanded its role as an independent and dominant trading power in the region. Its trade and territories grew with the spread of Islam to encompass existing Malay kingdoms in Borneo and the Philippines.

During the early spread of Islam in Brunei, many Arab Muslim missionaries married into Brunei royal family. The most notable was Sharif Ah from Taif, Arabia, who married a daughter of the second sultan, and later ascended the throne as the third Sultan in 1425.

Before Brunei became a Muslim Sultanate in the 14th century, Chinese accounts told of the dominance of Muslim traders in the 9th and 10th centuries.

In 977, for example, the Brunei Raja (then a Hindu-Buddhist) sent three Muslim traders as Brunei's envoys to the Sung court of China, mainly to represent Brunei in Brunei-China trade. It is believed that there was a community of influential Muslims in Brunei during this period.

The royal genealogy of Brunei's sultans dates back nearly 600 years when in 1365, Awang Alak Betatar embraced Islam, married a Johore princess, and assumed the title Sultan Muhammad, according to early chronicles.

A Persian missionary and direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, Sharif Ali, as Brunei's third sultan, further spread Islam, built mosques, and the first defence barriers at Kota Batu and across the Brunei river.

The sultanate's golden age dawned with the reign of the fifth sultan, Nakhoda Ragam or the singing captain, Sultan Bolkiah, who was famous for many conquests.

His voyages took him to Java, Malacca and the Philippines, where he seized Seludong (Manila). His rule extended over the Sultanates of Sambas, Pontianak, Banjarmasin, Pasi Kotei, Balongan, the Sulu Archipelago, and Islands of Balabac, Banggi, Balambangan and Palawan.

Antonio Pigafetta, the Italian chronicler during Ferdinand Magellan's world voyage, visited Brunei during Sultan Bolkiah's reign, and he wrote about the splendour of the sultan's court and a view of the state capital.

Legends have Brunei founded some 29 reigns ago by 14 brothers of heroic stature and semi-divine descent, according to a Monograph of the Brunei Museum Journal.

The exploits of the 14 founding heroes of Brunei are recounted in a very lengthy poem called the "Sha'er Awang Semaun."

In 1967, after 17 years of benevolent reign, Sultan Haji Sir Muda Omar Ah Saifuddien voluntarily abdicated it favour of his eldest son, His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who pledged to carry on his father's policies.

He descended from the throne with the title Seri Begawan Sultan Haji Omar Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien. In 1984, he became the Defence Minister of Negara Brunei Darussalam. He died in 1986.

His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di Pertuan Brunei Darussalam ascended the throne on October 5, 1967 as the 29th Sultan. He further pushed Brunei Darussalam on the road to greater economic and social development.

Brunei gained full independence in 1984.

2008-11-26T14:05:00.000+08:00

The official logo of Dastar of Brunei TM

Dastar

2008-11-25T21:37:00.000+08:00

click to enlarge

A memorable day; a typical day of wedding ceremony in Brunei Darussalam. The groom (the one and only man in the photo) is wearing dastar. Nowadays, Bruneians do not wear dastar as frequent as the previous generations used to. But dastar is still worn by the groom during weddings and during special functions at the palace. This way, the malay culture of wearing dastar is preserved from one generation to another.