Thimphu: President Pratibha Patil, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her family are likely to attend Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyal's coronation ceremony early next month, which the Bhutanese government plans to celebrate without much fanfare.
"The government has not invited a large gathering of royalty and dignitaries from around the world as His Majesty (King Namgyal) wanted to celebrate the auspicious occasion with the Bhutanese people," Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley told reporters here.
"His Majesty also commanded that Bhutan should not waste funds on elaborate celebrations for his Coronation," he said, adding that with its limited infrastructure, Bhutan cannot accommodate a large international gathering.
Thinley said that Indian President Patil and Mukherjee would attend the Coronation. Mrs Sonia Gandhi and her family, who are close friends of Bhutan's royal family, have been invited and are expected to attend.
"The government expects 32 diplomatic representatives from other countries, mostly those who are based in India," Thinley, also the chairman of National Steering Committee for the Coronation and Centenary Celebrations, said.
The government has declared a weeklong holiday from November 6 to mark the coronation celebrations. The sacred "dhar" ceremony, where Namgyal will receive the traditional white silk roll from religious leaders will be held on November 1.
