Women were wearing kebaya encim (traditional blouses with Betawi motifs) and men appeared dapper in sadariah (loose-sleeved shirts with sarong scarves).

The monument where they gathered was festooned with kembang kelapa (colorful paper ornaments shaped as coconut trees) and surrounded by ondel-ondel (giant Betawi puppets), as a parade of city administrators, public employees, security forces and Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel proceeded through the park. 

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan was in attendance with his wife.

“This year’s theme is 'Jakarta revive', which points to the efforts for economic and health recovery that make for an enduring and sustainable city,” Anies said in an address. “It also serves as a reminder of the inherent perseverance of the residents of this city.”

He noted that the past years had brought immense challenges for the city that had been met with determination and highlighted the local Betawi community, whom he said played an indispensable role in the diverse city.

“Nearly 500 years into our city’s journey, we have never stopped improving ourselves. This city is always undergoing renewal,” the governor said. 

The lively celebration, which is typically held every year, was suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

‘Something about the atmosphere’

The festivities had, in fact, started the day before with a fireworks display at the Jakarta Fair, underway at the Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo) center in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

Even though it was a Tuesday, hundreds were waiting in line hours before the fair’s gates opened to participate in one of the largest and longest-running annual exhibitions in Southeast Asia.

The Jakarta Fair’s return after a two-year hiatus has been met with palpable excitement, and it has attracted thousands of attendees, including some from neighboring cities, every day since its opening on June 9. The fair is set to run until July 17.

Read also: Jakarta Fair returns after two-year COVID-induced hiatus

Novi, a regular at the fair, came from Bogor by train with her husband and children to enjoy Jakarta's anniversary celebrations.

“Every time I hear that the Jakarta Fair is happening, I cannot help but come, even though I live far away. When it was canceled for two years, I cannot even express how much I missed it. There is something about the atmosphere,” she said.

Eki, a 28-year-old who was born and raised in Jakarta, echoed Novi’s sentiment, describing the ambience as “energetic”.

He said the yearly celebration made him happy and that the two-year hiatus meant this year’s return was especially exciting.

“I came here today with my friends. We came here to eat and enjoy ourselves, but I am most excited about the fireworks tonight,” said Eki.

Daniele, a middle-aged visitor who had come by bicycle from Cengkareng, West Jakarta, said it was his first time at the fair.

“I just wanted to know what it was all about. I have not seen all the booths yet, but after two years of COVID-19 restrictions, this is very exciting,” he said.

A number of the nation’s virus restrictions have been relaxed over the past months, and in May, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s announced that mask wearing was no longer compulsory outdoors. But Jakarta has seen an uptick in cases in recent weeks attributed to the spread of the new BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of Omicron.

In response, the organizers of the Jakarta Fair require visitors to be fully vaccinated and follow health protocols that include mask wearing and the checking in to the venue through contact tracing app PeduliLindungi.

The case uptick did not appear to concern many attendees.

Daniele, for example, said infection worries were "a small thing that should not be exaggerated”.

Eki said, “I did not know that COVID-19 cases were up again. That is indeed worrying, but I don’t think the virus is as serious now as it was before.”

Novi, meanwhile, was aware of the case uptick but had chosen to attend anyway.

“They said it was fine. So, I went,” she said.

Governor Anies said at the fair’s opening that he hoped the event would help boost the city’s post-pandemic economic recovery and emphasized that every visitor should comply with health protocols.