teraju.id, Pontianak – August 17th is a national day in the country of Indonesia. Where Indonesians remember their heroes who had sacrificed to fight for the Indonesian independence in 1945.
Interesting is how the Indonesians celebrate it. On the day of independence of 72 years, the governor’s office in Pontianak celebrated this in a very formal and traditional way. Where also only certain people are invited to the independence day ceremony. Such as navy, army, air force, government officials, high school students of Equator Earth, civil servants and TNI officers.
This celebration begins with a small theater that shows the hero’s fight against the Japanese / Dutch invaders. Highlight of this event is where Paskibra stormed into the field and put the flag. So everyone would salute the flag and national songs were sung. The event is surrounded by guards of Team Gegana, police of K-9 troops, army and policemen. Surprisingly is that security guards would stop the traffic so drivers can honor the flag. But what about the people who are not invited to the ceremony like in the governor’s office?
It is not always celebrated in a formal way but competitions became a tradition as well like cracker eating races, sack racing, tug of war and climbing Pinang to enliven Indonesia’s independence. What is interesting is that the various races can be located in the office, school or in the parking lot behind the store and it’s always accompanied by loud music and the cheering audience. (Amel)