BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, July 6 (Xinhua) -- The Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah celebrated the first day of annual Muslim festival of Hari Raya Aidil Fitri with foreign delegates Wednesday.
Hassanal Bolkiah, along with members of the royal family, welcomed foreign delegates from 29 countries to the Istana Nurul Iman palace. Besides foreign diplomats, Brunei's cabinet ministers, senior government officials and other invited guests also joined the celebration at the palace.
The sultanate celebrates Hari Raya with three-day national holiday. Hari Raya is Brunei's traditional festival, which falls at the end of the Muslim fasting month.
In conjunction with the Hari Raya, Istana Nurul Iman palace will be open to the Brunei people for 3 days starting on Thursday which is the second day of Hari Raya, to enable members of the public to have an audience and convey their greetings to the Sultan as well as to members of the royal family.
