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span class="inline inline-left">Jakarnaval: Several local artists wearing giant masks struggle to perform during the first ever carnival in the capital of Jakarta, known as Jakarnaval, on Sunday. The artists were unable to perform as the crowds were too close. The carnival was organized as part of the city'€™s 486th anniversary celebrations. JP/P.J. Leo Once again, Jakartans found themselves enjoying an entertaining, free and popular rendezvous. The city administration displayed on Sunday afternoon a Brazilian-style grandiose (Jakarta) carnival that involved 1,500 participants with Governor Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo taking center stage.

Wearing special Betawi attire and a unique hat, Jokowi resembled a Chinese emperor as he rode a brown horse. Taking his position in the front row, he was followed by many lines of ondel-ondel (giant Betawi effigies), with a pair of giant ones leading the carnival, which took City Hall as starting point, then went along Jl. Thamrin until the Hotel
Indonesia traffic circle.

'€œGood afternoon to all Jakartans. I officially start the 2013 Jakarnaval,'€ he accompanied by deputy governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama, said when he officially launched the carnival.

Around 5,000 residents who swarmed the city were entertained, applauding rare events performed during the three-hour carnival. Many said they were proud of Jokowi for his great attention to his people and would continue praying for his health and success in leading Jakarta until 2017.

While riding his brown horse, the governor took his hat off and wiped sweat from his head and face. Later after the parade, he admitted he felt dizzy wearing the heavy hat. And he also said he preferred being among the people watching the event.

Besides journalists covering the stories and taking photos, many used their cameras or cell phones to take photos of Jokowi, the massive ondel-ondel, celebrities and other participants who took part in the parade.

Taking a small stage at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, Jokowi greeted the audience and asked them not to dump trash arbitrarily and keep their environment clean.

'€œPlease throw garbage into the trash cans in every future festival. Secondly, don'€™t step on the gardens,'€ he said, adding that all flowers and other plants along the main streets should be maintained because they were planted by peoples'€™ taxes paid to the state, and cleanliness promoted to make a healthy environment.

The carnival was the last of a series of events organized in celebrating the city'€™s 486th anniversary. Last week, the city held a Jakarta Night Festival at the same venue, while dozens of festivals and other events were organized in observance of Jakarta Day. Earlier, Jokowi and Ahok vowed to bring the anniversary'€™s celebrations away from luxurious hotels and buildings and return it to the mainstream population.

'€œNext year, other regions will be involved. The city'€™s anniversary must convey happiness to residents and will no longer be made exclusive to officials in luxurious buildings. It must be open to all the people,'€ he said.

M. Wartono, a resident of Cilandak, South Jakarta, said this year'€™s carnival was different to last year'€™s. He came with his 3-year old daughter and wife.

'€œI see that the concept is different, and it has a theme,'€ he said. '€œ[...] and I like how the governor joins the parade and greets his people.'€

Sixty-year-old Suwarni, a street vendor in West Jakarta, said she intentionally spared her time for the carnival and brought her 2-year-old granddaughter with her.

'€œI came here to entertain my grand- daughter, but she started crying when she saw the giant ondel-ondel,'€ she said while laughing and still trying to calm her crying grand daughter.

Amid the entertainment and festivities, some Jakartans were still irresponsibly using their motorcycles although the area was cleared of vehicles.

Jakarta Transportation Agency head Udar Pristono said that his side would evaluate this year'€™s carnival, as many residents were still using motorcycles along the road used for the parade.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said that police dispatched 550 personnel to safeguard the event. Police also diverted roads, causing quite a chaotic traffic situation as buses passed through smaller roads.

Traffic returned to normal at 6 p.m. after the roads were opened for vehicles.

Besides Jakarnaval, the administration is also holding the annual Jakarta Fair exhibition from June 6 to July 7 in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.