Y

OGYAKARTA: The organizing committee of the Yogyakarta Palace's Dhaup Ageng (Grand Wedding) ceremony had made final preparations by decorating all parts of the palace on Sunday.

The committee used 1,200 janur (young coconut leaves) and thousands of decorative flowers for various items such as tarub (temporary roof), bokor (ornamental container) and other ornaments, said Kholil Nurwachid, 60, a janur artisan who decorated the palace.

He added that the flowers were taken from the nearby mountainous region of Ambarawa in Central Java because flowers from mountainous regions were of higher quality. The flowers cost Rp 15,000 (US$1.32) per bunch.

The number of guests has risen from 2,500 to 3,700, forcing the committee to limit the number of journalists allowed to cover the royal wedding of Sultan Hamengkubuwono X's fourth daughter, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hayu and Angger Pribadi Wibowo.

The entire procession will take place from Monday until Wednesday. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono are scheduled to attend the panggih ritual (when the bride meets the groom) on Tuesday.

'We are sorry that we can only grant access to a limited number of journalists,' said Sugarman who handles the media.

He said that only 60 journalists, mostly photographers and those from TV stations, were granted access from more than 400 applications.

The committee provided the Bale Raos restaurant in Magangan for print journalists.