Wedding of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan and Jetsun Pema

The Royal Family and People of Bhutan celebrated the Wedding of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan and Jetsun Pema at the majestic Punakha Dzong on this day in 2011, 15 years ago, which was the third biggest Royal Wedding that year following the Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton and the Wedding of Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan, son of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck and his third wife, Queen Tshering Yangdon, married Jetsun Pema in a traditional Buddhist Ceremony at the Punakha Dzong.

The royal wedding ceremony (Gyal Tsuen Tashi Ngasoel) combined coronation and nuptials. Ahead of the ceremony, the betrothed received the blessings of the machhen (holy relic) of Zhabdrung 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 Shabdrung 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 Phoenix Crown of the Druk Gyaltsuen. 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.