Seventy years ago, in a small house on Jl. Pegangsaan in Central Jakarta, a small crowd of Indonesians gathered to listen to a man wearing a peci (male headdress) speaking loudly into an old microphone, reading a small note, not more than a few paragraphs long. Then, three men walked into the yard and hoisted a flag, a red-and-white flag made from two pieces of cloth sewn together by Madame Fatimah, the wife of the man, Sukarno, who was reading the small note and who would then become the first president of the newly born Republic of Indonesia.

Since then Indonesia has risen to become one of the world’s greatest nations. The largest archipelago in the world with more than 17,000 islands, the country is now inhabited by more than 245 million citizens. Indonesia has risen to be a modern state that holds a prestigious position in the world’s geopolitical structure.

Seventy years of independence is a very long memory for every tale in every story. But as a nation, 70 years of Indonesian independence means the young nation is still in an adolescent phase, embracing the new future ahead.

Many see the number 7 as a sacred number. It is a perfect number and some say it is a lucky number. So when we look at the celebration of the 70th anniversary of Indonesia’s Independence Day, many Indonesians are looking forward to a fresh hope along with rising expectations from the new presidency, the “Jokowi Era”.

The following images are glimpses into moments of how Indonesians celebrate their sacred Independence Day, from the muddy smile of man in a panjat pinang (climbing a slippery areca nut trunk) game to a teenager leaping into a river, brightly smiling as the nation celebrates.

Look alike: An antique bicycle enthusiast dresses to look like Indonesia’s first president Sukarno on his way to the Independence Day ceremony held in Puputan Badung square in Denpasar on Monday.(JP/Zul Trio Anggono)

Let’s go: A boy decorated his bike to sport the Ayo Kerja (Let’s Work) slogan during a carnival to celebrate Independence Day in South Tangerang, Banten, on Monday. Ayo Kerja is this year’s theme for the Independence Day celebration.(JP/Seto Wardhana)

Last race: Children are competing in the pacu karung (sack race) in Cipaku, Sumedang, West Java, on Monday. This year’s Independence Day celebration will be the last for these residents as the government has decided to fill the nearby Jatigede Reservoir on Aug. 31.(JP/Arya Dipa)

Hard work: Residents are covered in mud and oil as they participate in a panjat pinang game in Babakan Pocis, South Tangerang, Banten, on Monday.(JP/DON)

Heroic ceremony: A Sanitary and Parks Agency employee clad in a Captain America uniform leads a flag-hoisting ceremony in Kuta, Bali, on Monday, involving hundreds of sanitary workers.(JP/Zul Trio Anggono)

Slippery race: Residents take part in the panjat pinang (climbing a slippery areca nut trunk) to get prizes during a competition in Babakan Pocis, South Tangerang, Banten, on Sunday.(JP/DON)

Seventy years ago, in a small house on Jl. Pegangsaan in Central Jakarta, a small crowd of Indonesians gathered to listen to a man wearing a peci (male headdress) speaking loudly into an old microphone, reading a small note, not more than a few paragraphs long. Then, three men walked into the yard and hoisted a flag, a red-and-white flag made from two pieces of cloth sewn together by Madame Fatimah, the wife of the man, Sukarno, who was reading the small note and who would then become the first president of the newly born Republic of Indonesia.

Since then Indonesia has risen to become one of the world'€™s greatest nations. The largest archipelago in the world with more than 17,000 islands, the country is now inhabited by more than 245 million citizens. Indonesia has risen to be a modern state that holds a prestigious position in the world'€™s geopolitical structure.

Seventy years of independence is a very long memory for every tale in every story. But as a nation, 70 years of Indonesian independence means the young nation is still in an adolescent phase, embracing the new future ahead.

Many see the number 7 as a sacred number. It is a perfect number and some say it is a lucky number. So when we look at the celebration of the 70th anniversary of Indonesia'€™s Independence Day, many Indonesians are looking forward to a fresh hope along with rising expectations from the new presidency, the '€œJokowi Era'€.

The following images are glimpses into moments of how Indonesians celebrate their sacred Independence Day, from the muddy smile of man in a panjat pinang (climbing a slippery areca nut trunk) game to a teenager leaping into a river, brightly smiling as the nation celebrates.