A royal affair: Tengku Amir Shah kissing the hand of Sultan Sharafuddin as Datin Paduka Seri Afzaa Fadini looks on during their bersanding ceremony. — Photo courtesy of Utusan Malaysia
KLANG: The bersanding ceremony of Selangor Raja Muda Tengku Amir Shah and his bride, Datin Paduka Seri Afzaa Fadini Datuk Abdul Aziz, has been described as a ceremony filled with elegant simplicity.
Although the event, which lasted just about an hour, was a grand affair befitting Tengku Amir Shah’s stature as the state’s crown prince, the ceremony, which was held at Balairong Seri of Istana Alam Shah here, was simple and modest.
The simplicity of the event was earlier described by the Raja Muda’s first cousin, Engku Panglima Setia Diraja Datuk Syed Haizam Hishamuddin Putra Jamalullail, who told The Star last week that the bersanding ceremony “would be rich in tradition, adhering to the adat (tradition) of the Selangor royal family, yet would maintain an understated elegance”.
Dressed in matching cream-coloured attire, both the bride and groom were showered with traditional blessings during the merenjis ceremony, which is symbolic of wishing the couple a long and happy marriage.
Senior members of the royal family, along with the bride’s parents, bestowed their blessings upon the couple during the merenjis ceremony by gently sprinkling them with bunga rampai and scented water.
Leading the ceremony were Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin.
They were followed by the Raja Muda’s mother, Che Puan Nur Lisa Idris.
Others who performed the merenjis ceremony were Sultan Sharafuddin’s three brothers, as well as the groom’s sisters, Tengku Zerafina and Tengku Zatashah, and their respective spouses, Datuk Colin Salem Parbury and Datuk Aubry Rahim Mennesson.
Then it was the turn of the bride’s parents, Datuk Abdul Aziz Mat and Datin Rosmawati Ismail, to perform the merenjis ceremony, which marked the end of the event.
Tengku Amir Shah, 35, is Sultan Sharafuddin’s youngest of three children and only son, while Datin Paduka Seri Afzaa Fadini, 32, is the youngest child and only girl among three siblings.
Tengku Amir Shah was installed as the heir to the Selangor throne on May 3, 2002, when he was 11 and was officially proclaimed as the Raja Muda in October 2016.
