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Joyful celebrations of Independence Day
In it to win it: Two boys engage in a pillow fight while sitting on a pole across the Batua Raya Canal as part of celebrations to mark the countryâs 69th Independence Day in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Sunday
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span class="inline inline-center">In it to win it: Two boys engage in a pillow fight while sitting on a pole across the Batua Raya Canal as part of celebrations to mark the country's 69th Independence Day in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Sunday. Each participant had to try to hit his opponent with a wet pillow to make him fall in the water to win the game. Antara/Yusran Uccang
Indonesia proudly declared its independence on Aug. 17, 1945, and defended that independence fiercely from Dutch aggression until 1949. Thousands of people sacrificed their lives for merdeka, the freedom from colonialism.
Following its tough journey of 69 years, Indonesia has emerged as the world's third-biggest democracy, after India and the US, with Pancasila as the state ideology and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) as the state's main motto. Though the archipelagic nation is home to the world's biggest Muslim population, it adheres to pluralism, under which Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and followers of other faiths live in peace and harmony.
On the economic front, today Indonesia , based on the World Bank's power purchasing parity, is the 10th largest economy in the world and the number-one economy in Southeast Asia.
Yesterday, as in every year on Aug. 17, millions of Indonesian citizens, from Aceh to Papua, celebrated Independence Day with great pride and joy. People of all ages took part in traditional games and fun competitions. Winning or losing did not matter, what was important for everybody was enjoying the special day.
President-elect Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo personally took part in a sack race and soccer competition in Pluit in North Jakarta while several overseas tourists also joined in the fun with local residents.
' JP/Veeramalla Anjaiah
