At the National Celebrations at the 30,000-capacity Chang Lime Thang Stadium, overflowing with people, the 31-year-old Oxford-educated dashing King and his 21-year-old bride went around, talking to them, graciously accepting gifts, planting kisses on children and letting them reciprocate. The King walked hand-in-hand with his beautiful bride and displayed his romantic side, publicly kissing her not once but thrice, thus throwing the people into a rapturous frenzy.
They went around the stadium, spoke to the guests, monks and even to foreign media, who have turned up in large numbers to cover the wedding, and thanked everyone for their wishes. The King also unveiled a giant painting of Lord Buddha depicted in different manifestations at the stadium. After the end of the 6-hour colourful cultural extravaganza, the Royal Couple and guests and diplomats also shook a leg as part of the tradition. Rahul Gandhi, who was a personal guest of the royal family, also joined in as the guests, the couple and members of the Royal Family danced to a traditional song.Earlier, the Royal Couple were accorded a ceremonial reception by the Royal Bhutan Army on their first visit to the seat of the tiny kingdom's government. As the dawn broke, the two walked into the TashichhoDzong, the office of the King, along a ceremonial procession of over 100 people that consisted of traditional artists, red-robe monks and others. The ceremony, as part of the Royal traditions, was strictly a family and government affair except for the participation of Gandhi, the Congress MP from Amethi, whose family shares a close relationship with the Bhutan Royals. The importance that the Royal Family attached to the Nehru-Gandhi clan was evident from the fact that Rahul was accompanied to the huge monastic fortress by none other than the present King's father. As the Royal Couple arrived at the Dzong, they were received by the King's father Jigme Singye Wangchuck and chief monk of the country Je Khenpo and the 'Grand National Flag' was unfurled with the Guard of Honour presenting arms. The King and the Queen looked fresh and relaxed despite making most of their 71-km journey from Punakha to Thimphu on foot yesterday as thousands of people lined up along the road to greet them. As the four ascended the dais, around 50 soldiers of the Royal Bhutan Army marched and accorded a Guard of Honour and presented the national flag to the Royal Couple, who touched it with their both hands. Rahul, whose father Rajiv Gandhi was a close friend of the present King's father, was introduced to Je Khenpo and was escorted to near the dais, where members of the Royal Family had been waiting for some time. Clad in his trademark white kurta and shirt with a black jacket, the 41-year-old, who is a close acquaintance of Wangchuck, greeted the King and the Queen with a 'namaste' and even bowed for a while along with the members of the Royal Family as a mark of respect to the couple. With a grand painting depicting Lord Buddha in different manifestations forming the background, the Bhutan Army soldiers stood in attention as prayers were held and accorded a ceremonial reception to the couple. After the brief ceremony, the couple were escorted to the Royal Chambers where the King ascended the Golden Throne and wore the Raven Crown followed by a series of prayers led by monks. Throughout the nearly 30-minute ceremony, the young Nehru-Gandhi scion stood along with the members of the Royal Family and was seen chatting with them as they waited for the couple to arrive. Members of the Royal Family introduced Gandhi to senior government functionaries and others.
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