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'Dragon King' marries commoner in reclusive Bhutan
Source: Agencies |
October 13, 2011, Thursday
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BHUTAN'S "Dragon King" married a young commoner in an ancient Himalayan monastic fortress today, sipping a chalice of ambrosia symbolizing eternal life in a Buddhist wedding that has transfixed a reclusive kingdom slowly embracing globalization.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck wore a crown adorned with a raven's head during the sumptuous ceremony in this 17th-century fortress, as 21-year-old student Jetsun Pema, daughter of an airline pilot, received a crown embroidered with silk.
In a nation of 700,000 people where television was only introduced in 1999, the ceremony was broadcast live. Thousands of people, dressed in traditional colored robes, stood outside. Some monks chanted, others hit drums, as white incense drifted through the morning mist.
Oxford-educated Wangchuck, 31, is revered as this insular nation slowly embraces democracy after his father abdicated in 2006 to introduce parliamentary elections. The monarchy is seen as helping stabilize a fragile democracy wedged between India and China in a conflict-ridden region.
"I am happy. I have been waiting quite some time," the king told reporters after the ceremony. "She is a wonderful human being, intelligent. Her and I share one big thing in common - love and passion for art."
As the mist slowly lifted, Buddhist horns sounded across the Punakha valley as the bride arrived in a procession of singers, relatives and Buddhist monks across an ancient footbridge, all led by a white horse. Baby elephants guarded one of the fortress's entrances.
Nomadic farmers dressed in ceremonial dress walked down from the mountain hills to the fortress, nestled between two rivers.
The king and his father entered a sacred chamber holding the embalmed body of the 17th-century remains of Bhutan's founder, where they received holy Buddhist scarves and a chalice of blessed curd that represents eternal life.
The king's father, accompanied by his four wives, handed the blessed coloured scarves to a nervous-looking bride.
"I am a very happy man today," said Kesang Chopel, 41, a Buddhist saffron-robed monk who watched the couple's arrival in Bhutan's former ancient capital. "There is the king, and there are so many masters here, lamas. There is a special feeling."
Posters of the couple adorn almost every building, lamppost and roundabout in the capital, Thimphu, three hours drive away. School children have published poems in the queen's honor, calling her "the moon, a beautiful heroine and the lotus flower".
Monks have held dawn prayer sessions in remote mountain valleys and Bhutan's airline has had to add extra flights to deal with the demand of visitors from abroad.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck wore a crown adorned with a raven's head during the sumptuous ceremony in this 17th-century fortress, as 21-year-old student Jetsun Pema, daughter of an airline pilot, received a crown embroidered with silk.
In a nation of 700,000 people where television was only introduced in 1999, the ceremony was broadcast live. Thousands of people, dressed in traditional colored robes, stood outside. Some monks chanted, others hit drums, as white incense drifted through the morning mist.
Oxford-educated Wangchuck, 31, is revered as this insular nation slowly embraces democracy after his father abdicated in 2006 to introduce parliamentary elections. The monarchy is seen as helping stabilize a fragile democracy wedged between India and China in a conflict-ridden region.
"I am happy. I have been waiting quite some time," the king told reporters after the ceremony. "She is a wonderful human being, intelligent. Her and I share one big thing in common - love and passion for art."
As the mist slowly lifted, Buddhist horns sounded across the Punakha valley as the bride arrived in a procession of singers, relatives and Buddhist monks across an ancient footbridge, all led by a white horse. Baby elephants guarded one of the fortress's entrances.
Nomadic farmers dressed in ceremonial dress walked down from the mountain hills to the fortress, nestled between two rivers.
The king and his father entered a sacred chamber holding the embalmed body of the 17th-century remains of Bhutan's founder, where they received holy Buddhist scarves and a chalice of blessed curd that represents eternal life.
The king's father, accompanied by his four wives, handed the blessed coloured scarves to a nervous-looking bride.
"I am a very happy man today," said Kesang Chopel, 41, a Buddhist saffron-robed monk who watched the couple's arrival in Bhutan's former ancient capital. "There is the king, and there are so many masters here, lamas. There is a special feeling."
Posters of the couple adorn almost every building, lamppost and roundabout in the capital, Thimphu, three hours drive away. School children have published poems in the queen's honor, calling her "the moon, a beautiful heroine and the lotus flower".
Monks have held dawn prayer sessions in remote mountain valleys and Bhutan's airline has had to add extra flights to deal with the demand of visitors from abroad.
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