20^th Independence Day Promises to be Outstanding

The mass gathering in celebration of the 20th National Day anniversary will be staged in the evening at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.  This will be the first time the celebration takes place in the evening, and the second time the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium has been chosen as the venue.  The National Stadium was first used for the celebration on the 23rd of February 1984, when Brunei celebrated its first National Day celebration.

This year, the National Day carries the theme “Patriotisme Teras Keteguhan Negara”, or “Patriotism - The Basis of the Nation’s Strength”.  This was stated by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Dato Seri Paduka Doctor Haji Awang Hussein, at the third meeting of the executive committee of the 20th National Day celebration. 

One of the efforts to glorify National Day involves organizing roadshows in the four districts.  The executive committee estimates some twenty-seven thousand people will be present for this year’s celebration.  Some six thousand people comprising of children, youth, government agencies and private sector employees will participate in the field performances.

As in previous years, this year’s National Day celebration will also be preceded by mass Maghrib prayers followed by the reading of Surah Yassin and doa kesyukuran and the mass Isyak prayers in mosques and suraus throughout the country.