BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Brunei celebrated Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah's 76th birthday with various activities including a ceremonial parade and a state banquet on Friday.
The Sultan's birthday celebration is an important event on the country's annual calendar, which usually lasted about a month. It began on Friday with a public holiday and a ceremonial parade.
People from all walks of life in the country thronged the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar 'Ali Saifuddien in the capital, the focal point of royal birthday celebrations, to witness the grand parade.
The Sultan attended the grand parade and inspected the royal guard of honor. The parade was followed by the conferment of state honors and decorations and a state banquet at the Istana Nurul Iman, the royal palace.
Other members of the royal family and high-level foreign dignitaries, including Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, also joined the birthday celebration. ■
