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Greater Jakarta residents find ways to mark Independence Day despite COVID-19
To celebrate Independence Day, which is usually filled with physical games and direct interactions, Jakarta's residents, limited by the pandemic, turned to more subdued activities, or else celebrated online.
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Five-year-old Rashan participates in an online celebration of Indonesia's Independence Day held by Al-Izhar kindergarten in Jakarta on Aug. 17, 2020. Amid the pandemic, residents were told to celebrate the country's 75th anniversary in less-festive ways than usual in Greater Jakarta. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
W
ith the big and joyous celebrations of Independence Day canceled this year due to the pandemic, Greater Jakarta residents had to get creative to celebrate the country’s 75th anniversary.
To replace the annual festivities, which are usually filled with physical games and direct interactions, youngsters living in North Sukabumi subdistrict in Kebon Jeruk district, West Jakarta, decided to create an 8-meter-tall kite adorned with the red and white colors of Indonesia’s flag.
“Since young people in this neighborhood had no activities to do following the canceled festivities this year, they – from kids to teenagers and young adults – decided to build themselves a giant kite,” resident Cahyadi said on Sunday as quoted by tribunnews.com.
The youngsters spent three days building the kite on an empty street at night, because the neighborhood did not have a spacious area, and they also had to comply with physical distancing policy.
The North Sukabumi residents planned to fly the kite at the Intercon field in West Jakarta.
Elsewhere, members of the Ciliwung Depok Community carried on with their tradition of staging a flag-hoisting ceremony at the Ciliwung River on Monday.
Wearing life jackets and safety helmets, members of the community, which is known for promoting sustainability at the river, arrived at the flag ceremony spot on inflatable boats, celebrating the tradition for their seventh time on Independence Day.
Read also: Bank Indonesia releases commemorative Rp 75,000 bill to celebrate 75th Independence Day
“We’ve been conducting this kind of flag-hoisting ceremony for seven years in a row,” said community member Amrih Maulana. “The ceremony aims to spread awareness about the condition of the Ciliwung River to the public. Hopefully, we can inspire others to take care of the Ciliwung River and other rivers in Indonesia.”
Amrih went on to say that this year’s ceremony was limited to only a certain number of people due to the pandemic. Nevertheless, he said he hoped the community’s effort could inspire the Depok administration to care for the river.
With the large-scale social restrictions still in place in Tangerang, Banten, the local administration decided to commemorate the country’s anniversary virtually by hosting online contests for traditional games and activities such the rubber relay race, the cracker eating contest and balloon dancing.
In the meantime, the Jakarta administration is still allowing citizens to celebrate Independence Day in public as long as it involves no crowds.
The Jakarta Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) also stressed that any Independence Day activities should adhere to health protocols.
“Local officials will halt any activities that could potentially attract crowds,” Jakarta Satpol PP head Arifin said on Sunday.
Despite the calls to be less festive during the extended weekend, Jakartans exited the city in droves to go on their holiday getaways. According to state-owned toll road operator PT Jasa Marga, 361,236 vehicles left Jakarta on Aug. 14 and 15, kompas.com reported. (trn)
