Bhutan's Royal Wedding begins

Bhutan's much-publicised Royal Wedding that will see the King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck tying the nuptial knot with his childhood sweetheart and India-educated commoner Jetsun Pema began this morning amid chanting of hymns by Buddhist monks in the historical city of Punakha.

Thousands of Bhutanese, including children and women, started thronging the ground near the stunning 17th century fortress in this ancient city, 71 km from capital Thimphu, from various parts of the tiny Himalayan Kingdom as early as 5 AM (local time) braving intense cold conditions.

Majority of the 7 lakh population glued to their television sets to watch the wedding ceremony which was being telecast live on Bhutan Broadcasting Service TV.

The elaborate wedding ceremony, that is being conducted according to Bhutanese Buddhist traditions, began at 4 AM with initiation of special prayers by 100 monks led by His Holiness Je Khenpo, the head monastic preceptor.

The dashing 31-year-old Oxford-educated Wangchuck emerged from his palace at around 8.20 AM accompanied by Premier Jigmi Y Thinley and the Chief of Bhutan Royal Police and proceeded straight to the large monastic fortress located between two rivers – Fochu (Father River) and Mochu (Mother River).

Minutes later, a procession of over 100 people beating drums and chanting hymns brought the 21-year-old Royal Bride Pema, who did her higher secondary schooling in Himachal Pradesh's Sanawar, to the palace through the wooden bridge to the palace where the ceremony is now taking place. India, which shares traditional and civilization links with Bhutan, was officially represented by its Ambassador Pavan K Verma.

West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia were also present at the ceremony.