Jakarta, August 17.- After two years of virtual celebration under the shadow of COVID-19, Indonesia celebrated the 77th anniversary of its independence, considered by the Indonesian people to be the best festivities of the year.
The flag-raising ceremony, particularly the one held at the “Merdeka” Presidential Palace in central Jakarta, marked the start of the day's festivities. The Indonesian Constitution recommends, as part of the ritual of most Indonesians , that on Independence Day, all Indonesians will fly the national flag in front of houses, office buildings, schools and public institutions throughout the country. They also decorate the streets and alleys with 'Umbul-umbul' (red and white flags), banners and organize festivities with cultural performances, musical shows and flag hoisting.
This year, in a post-pandemic context, friendly competitions between neighbors were organized in all cities and towns, volleyball, table tennis, sack races, pole climbing, dance, costume or carving contests for food and decorative plants for the home, the latter in communities with an elderly majority.
In addition to neighborhood gatherings, schools across the country also held their own festivities and competitions in which students, dressed in red and white, the colors of the flag, also celebrated the flag-raising ceremony, after an intense month-long training for former flag bearers and members of the military.
At the ceremony held at the Presidential Palace, with the presence of the main leaders of the nation and the president, Mr. Joko Widodo, the Ambassador of Cuba in this country, Tania Velázquez López, was present.
With the independence of Indonesia, the Japanese occupation and four years of Dutch colonization ended.
Embassy of Cuba in Indonesia.