... Alhamdulillah, it ran smoothly."Solo (ANTARA News) - Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), officially wed Selvi Ananda, former winner of a Solo beauty pageant, after fluently reciting the "nikah" (Islamic marriage contract) on Thursday morning.
"From this second, the couple is legally married as husband and wife in accordance with Islamic teachings and existing laws," Head of the Banjarsari Religious Affairs Office (KUA) Muchroji said here while heading the ceremony at Graha Saba Buana Building.
As dowry, Gibran gave Selvi a set of gowns for prayers.
The "nikah" ceremony was attended by VIPs such as former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, Minister/State Secretary Pratikno and National Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti.
Every guest at the "nikah" ceremony received a batik tablecloth as a souvenir from Jokowis family.
Various culinary specialties of Solo such as tengkleng, serabi and martabak kota baru were served to the quests, Bambang Mintosih, a hotel owner and one of the guests, revealed.
Born in Solo on October 1, 1987, Gibran now owns a catering company and restaurant. He met Selvi, his neighbor, in Singapore in 2010.
Selvi, who was also born in Solo on January 9, 1989, was in Singapore as a tourism envoy of the city, while Gibran led a Solo Batik Carnival delegation.
"Gibran and I dated for more than five years, since 2010. I first met him during the Solo beauty pageant in 2009, but I did not know him at that time," Selvi told the press prior to her wedding ceremony recently.
Gibran, whose father Jokowi was the mayor of Solo then, was one of the jury members of the beauty contest.
Furthermore, President Jokowi expressed his gratitude to all his countrymen for their support during the wedding proceedings of his son Gibran Rakabuming Raka and Selvi Ananda.
"The marriage ceremony of my son and Selvi Ananda is over, and Alhamdulillah, it ran smoothly. I sought the blessings of all people of Indonesia, and now, my family and I thank them profusely," he remarked.
Among those present at the ceremony were numerous government officials, including former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, Minister/State Secretary Pratikno, Presidential Special Staff Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, and Mayor of Solo F. X. Hadi Rudyatmo.
Following the wedding ceremony, the reception is scheduled to be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. local time the same day, and Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla is also slated to attend it.
(Uu.F001/INE/KR-BSR/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
