Thousands gather To See Procession Of Newlywed Royal Couple

Yogyakarta, Oct 23 (Antara) - Thousands of people from different parts of the country came to witness the parade of the newlywed royal couple of the Yogyakarta Sultanate - GKR Hayu and KPH Notonegoro - here on Wednesday. A section of the city`s main road, Malioboro, from the Yogyakarta Palace to "Bangsal Kepatihan", where the reception was to be held, was packed with people wishing to catch a glimpse of the traditional royal wedding parade, which will perhaps be the last for years to come. GKR Hayu, the fourth daughter of Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, was married to KPH Notonegoro in an official and traditional wedding ceremony the previous day. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono; Vice President Boediono and his wife, Mrs Herawati; several cabinet ministers; and, other dignitaries, including foreign representatives, had attended the ceremony. Hamengkubuwono X, who is the governor of Yogyakarta, is also the chief of the traditional Yogyakarta Sultanate. The parade carrying the newlywed royals left the palace at 9 a.m. It was led by units of Bregodo Prawirotomo and Patangpuluhan traditional troops and accompanied by Lawung Ageng dancers on horses. GKR Hayu and KPH Notonegoro followed them on a Kyai Jongwiyat carriage. As the procession moved forward, the newlyweds waved to the crowd lined up along the street. Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and wife GKR Hemad came up behind the couple on a Kyai Winotopuro carriage. There were several other carriages in the parade. They carried the Sultan`s envoys and Mataram palace traditional dancers. Salim (80), a spectator, said he had come all the way to the city from Jakarta to see the parade along with his sons and grandchildren. "To me this is an interesting historic event. I only saw the wedding ceremony of the Sultan`s other daughter (GKR Bendara) on television," he stated. Yati (73), another spectator, said that as a native of Yogyakarta, she was proud to have witnessed the event. "I wish to congratulate the Sultan on the ceremony. Moreover, this will be the last (such) wedding ceremony to be held by Sultan," she added. The Sultan has five daughters. During the parade, several roads, including the Malioboro (the chief and most popular road in the city) were closed.