The Majlis Istiadat Membuka Gendang Jaga-Jaga or the opening of the playing of traditional musical instruments by royal court musicians for keeping vigil, in conjunction with the Royal Wedding between the daughter of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah and Yang Mulia Pengiran Haji Muhammad Ruzaini bin Pengiran Dr. Haji Mohd. Yakub took place at the Lapau in Bandar Seri Begawan.
The Majlis Istiadat membuka Gendang Jaga-Jaga was conducted in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, The Crown Prince, as representative of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. Upon arrival, His Royal Highness was welcomed by Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Seri Wijaya Pengiran Haji Ahmad. Also present were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Abdul Azim, His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Malik and His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Mateen.
Soon after His Royal Highness The Crown Prince was seated, the Juru Laki Awang Haji Johan Areffen, accompanied by other musicians entered, bearing such traditional musical instruments as Serunai or Flutes and Gendang Labek or a type of drum and took their seats at a specially allocated position.
The ceremony then got underway with Yang Berhormat Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr. Ustaz Haji Awang Mohamad Zain, informing Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz that the Istiadat Membuka Gendang Jaga-Jaga was in place to proceed. Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah in turn informed His Royal Highness the Crown Prince that the ceremony was in place to proceed.
His Royal Highness The Crown Prince subsequently gave consent for the Istiadat Membuka Gendang Jaga-Jaga to commence and the Juru Laki Haji Johan Areffen duly sought to commence the proceedings. The Juru Laki proceeded to the Patarana from the left-hand side to lift the Nakara, a type of kettle drum, and bore it upon his head.
The Juru Laki Haji Johan Areffen passed through the centre to put the Nakara on a specially-allocated spot between two Gendang Labek.
The beating of the Nakara then commenced followed by the playing of Gendang Labek, Serunai accompanied by Agong and Chanang, types of gongs. The beating of the Nakara was accompanied by twenty-one cannon-fire salutes.
The beatings vary from the beatings of various intermediary beats before finally going to war-beats, with the beats being done according to the number of people present that are entitled to the honour. For Wazirs, Pengiran Cheterias and Pengiran Peranakan the Nakara is beaten 10 times while beatings not using the Nakara for titled Pehin Manteris are 10 beats.
The Doa Selamat was read by the State Mufti, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Doctor Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned.
After the doa selamat, the Juru Laki Awang Haji Johan Areffen, sought consent to carry the Nakara through the centre of the audience. The Nakara was then returned to its original location. Other musicians, meanwhile, sought consent to leave the ceremony.Yang Berhormat Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr. Ustaz Haji Awang Mohamad Zain once again approached and informed Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz that the Istiadat Membuka Gendang Jaga-Jaga has been diligently carried out.
His Royal Highness The Crown Prince then delivered a Sabda:
"In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate and Merciful and sovereignty of my father, the Majlis Istiadat Membuka Gendang Jaga-Jaga for the royal wedding between my sister, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah and Yang Mulia Pengiran Haji Muhammad Ruzaini bin Pengiran Dr.Haji Mohd Yakub has been diligently carried out. My father is most pleased to bestow a troupe of Gendang Jaga-Jaga to my uncle, Duli Pengiran Bendahara, who is presiding over the wedding proceedings on the side of the bridegroom-to-be, and IÂ am pleased if Pehin can convey this bestowment of Gendang Jaga-Jaga troupe this morning."
His Royal Highness The Crown Prince then left the istiadat. Also present at this ceremony were Pengiran Cheterias, Cabinet ministers, Members of Councils, Deputy Ministers, Pengiran-Pengiran Peranakan, Pehin-Pehin manteri, Manteri-Manteri Hulubalang, Manteri-Manteri Pedalaman, Heads of Diplomatic Missions, Members of the Legislative Council, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Government Department.