A tradition called nyantri on Monday marked the start of the dhaup ageng or royal wedding of Yogyakarta Sultan Hamengkubuwono X'€™s fourth daughter Gusti Raden Ajeng Nur Abra Juwita, 29, who was crowned Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hayu.

The nyantri started with the fetching of the groom-to-be, Angger Pribadi Wibowo, 39, (crowned Kanjeng Pangeran Haryo Notonegoro) from Dalem Mangkubumen to Dalem Magangan in the Yogyakarta Palace compound.

Normally, a royal groom-to-be needed the whole night to undergo nyantri, but on this occasion the ritual was only a couple of hours.

'€œThis tradition marks the start of the wedding proceedings,'€ chairman of the royal wedding organizing committee, KRT Yudho Hadiningrat, said on the sidelines of the event on Monday.

Historian Djoko Suryo of Gadjah Mada University said that the nyantri ritual introduced a groom-to-be to the palace culture, as once the couple were married they would be part of the royal family.

'€œThis is not just about preserving tradition but is actually a specific part of a royal wedding,'€ said Djoko at the palace compound on Monday.

After the nyantri, the bride and the groom underwent siraman (bathing), which used water from seven different springs in the palace compound. This particular ritual is a symbolic purifying of the couple before their sacred wedding ceremony, scheduled for Tuesday.

The siraman ritual for the bride was held at the palace'€™s Keputren Hall, while the groom'€™s ritual was at Kesatrian Hall.

A tantingan (confirming) ritual was held the following afternoon during which Sultan Hamengkubuwono X asked for his daughter'€™s resoluteness regarding the marriage. The ritual was followed by the midodareni, which is when the bride mentally prepares for the wedding.

On Tuesday, the couple will undergo the ijab qabul (Islamic wedding ceremony) at the Palace'€™s Panepen Mosque at about 7 a.m.

At 9:30 a.m., the royal family is scheduled to receive guests at the Bangsal Kencono Hall. Among the guests expected are President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Vice President Boediono, foreign ambassadors to Indonesia, ministers, top government officials and local administration heads.

To ensure the safety of the event, a number of road sections heading to the palace such as Jl. Kauman and Jl. Wijilan will be blocked from 7 a.m.

Some two-thirds of the Yogyakarta Police personnel will also be deployed.

Separately, the bridal makeup artist for the royal wedding, Tienuk Riefky, said he had been fasting over the past week in the hope her prayers would be answered by successful makeup.

'€œThrough fasting, hopefully I will be able to concentrate and sharpen my heart and ensure my best makeup,'€ Tienuk said.

She said that being appointed as the bridal makeup artist was a huge honor.

'€œI am proud I have been entrusted with the makeup for the royal wedding,'€ said Tienuk, adding that the same tasks were also entrusted to her for Sultan Hamengkubuwono X'€™s other four daughters.

'€œI surrender everything to God'€™s will for the best makeup,'€ she said.

Tienuk said that she had met the bride and groom before to understand their features, body and physical conditions.

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