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Jakarta Post

Happy 71st Independence Day, Indonesia

Fri, August 19, 2016   /   07:15 pm
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    Thousands of students from South Bolaang Mongondow take part in a traditional parade called taptu to commemorate the 71st anniversary of Indonesia’s independence on the eve of Independence Day on Aug. 16. JP/Lita Evangeline Aruperes

Each Independence Day on Aug. 17, the nation gets in a festive mood as various celebrations are held throughout the archipelago.

This year, to mark the country’s 71st anniversary of independence, a selected number of people, 1,210 to be exact, were invited to attend a ceremony at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, while millions of others celebrated in their own ways. They came from all over the nation: farmers from West Java, artists from Bali and teachers from East Nusa Tenggara.

While attendees of the State Palace’s commemoration watched in respect as the country’s very first red­-and-white flag was carried by a traditional horse­-drawn carriage, the Ki Jaga Raksa, Bajo people in Gorontalo saluted the red­-and-­white flag on small boats.

As churchgoers in Bandung had a quiet celebration during service, women convicts in Malang took part in a walk-­the-­plank race. Recently evicted residents of Jl. Stasiun Barat in Bandung put their worries aside for a day and took part in a cracker-­eating race on Wednesday, while Indonesian Military [TNI] soldiers hoisted flags riding jet skis on Kuta Beach.

Whether on land or at sea, whatever language or ethnicity, no matter the conditions, Indonesians always find a way to honor and celebrate Independence Day. [EVI]