Heroism, fun and joy all mixed together<\/p>\n
Sudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
A heroic, but festive atmosphere has developed in most of the
\ncountry's residential areas over the past few days, as the nation
\nhas been gearing up to celebrate Independence Day on Aug. 17.<\/p>\n
City-dwellers or those living in kampongs in most parts of the
\ncountry have decorated their neighborhoods, homes, schools and
\noffices with the national red-and-white flag, banners and special
\nportals, while others have hung strings of colored lights to
\ncommemorate the day.<\/p>\n
Many, too, carry out a cleanliness drive to make their
\nsurroundings cleaner, tidier and brighter by cutting overgrown
\ngrass, clearing stray twigs and collecting garbage and disposing
\nof it.<\/p>\n
In certain villages and kampongs, many erect wooden or bamboo-
\ngates adorned with statues of independence heroes at entrances to
\nvillages, alleys or housing complexes.<\/p>\n
Myriad events are being organized to celebrate the big day,
\nfrom challenging attractions to entertaining games, sporting
\nactivities and live musical performances.<\/p>\n
In many kampongs in greater Jakarta, neighborhood competitions
\nstarted a week ago, from soccer to badminton and from tennis to
\nchess.<\/p>\n
"We must celebrate Independence Day because it is the most
\nhistoric day in the national calendar, even though the country
\nhas yet to recover fully from the crisis," said Karman, from
\nKebon Jeruk, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
At SeaWorld's amphitheater in Ancol Dream Park, North Jakarta,
\nfor instance, visitors will enjoy a special treat when seven
\nskilled divers raise the national flag at the bottom of a six-
\nmeter-deep aquarium.<\/p>\n
The 10-minute-long flag-raising ceremony will be held at 1
\np.m. on Aug. 17, and should be quite a sight to behold, with the
\nred-and-white flag unfurled underwater.<\/p>\n
"Indonesia is an archipelago, thus, we are accustomed to ocean
\nviews, but celebrating Independence Day by raising the flag
\nunderwater is unique, and something that will be remembered in
\nthe years to come," said SeaWorld's marketing manager Agung
\nNugroho.<\/p>\n
The flag will measure 3 meters by 8 meters.<\/p>\n
SeaWorld will also hold a somewhat challenging diving contest.
\nContestants are required to dive and use their mouths to match a
\nsmall plastic fish with another "fish" at the bottom of a pool.<\/p>\n
"Those who manage to match the fish will win prizes, such as a
\ngas stove, a rice-cooker and an electric iron," said Agung.<\/p>\n
The palm-tree-climbing contest is an all-time favorite,
\nlargely because of its good old fashioned entertainment value.
\nThe participants, divided into several groups comprising of
\nbetween five to seven men or women, are required to climb the
\npalm tree to get prizes -- such as a bike, electronic items and
\nclothes -- which are hung from a wheel at the top.<\/p>\n
The game is particularly amusing in the final stages, when
\nparticipants push and shove each other to get to the prizes.<\/p>\n
At least 200 palm trees will be prepared for the competition,
\nwhich will be held on a sandy arena in front of the former Teater
\nMobil building in Ancol Dream Park.<\/p>\n
Visitors to Ancol Dream Park will be eligible for the
\ncompetition provided that they show an entrance ticket and ID
\ncard, said Ancol Dream Park's program division head Kasan.<\/p>\n
Residents living in Kalimalang, East Jakarta, will also hold
\nthe palm tree contest along Kalimalang River on Independence Day.
\nThe contest is usually followed by other games like pillow fights
\nabove the muddy river and a duck-catching contest in the river.<\/p>\n
Kerupuk-eating competitions are most popular with kampong
\nchildren. In the game, children race to finish eating local
\nshrimp crackers. The crackers are strung up in a row, and
\nparticipants must eat the crackers with their hands behind their
\nbacks.<\/p>\n
Other competition for children include five-a-side soccer
\nmatches, egg-eating contests, spoon races, eel-catching contests
\nand sack races. Sporting activities are also held as part of the
\ncelebrations, which will peak on Aug. 17.<\/p>\n
Villages or kampongs started the activities long before the
\ncelebrations to enable more residents to get into the right mood
\nfor Independence Day.<\/p>\n
"The day provides an opportunity for us to meet and talk,
\nthrough various sporting activities. Our goal is not to win the
\ncompetitions but to satisfy our need to gather together through
\nthis event," said Heri, from Puri Sumberadi Asri housing complex
\nin Jumeneng Village, Sleman regency, Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
The 46-year-old father took part in a football match, one of
\nthe sporting activities organized at the housing complex.<\/p>\n
A live musical concert with the theme "A party for the people"
\nwill highlight this special day, with major amusement centers
\nfeaturing dangdut music performances on Aug. 17. Dangdut is
\npopular music with a strong rhythm reminiscent of Hindi and
\nArabic music.<\/p>\n
Ancol Dream Park will present top dangdut vocalists such as
\nRhoma Irama, Vetty Vera and Alam.<\/p>\n
The jubilations will be solemn on the morning of Aug. 17, at
\nleast at the presidential palace where a ceremony marking the
\ncommemoration of Indonesia's 59th Independence Day will be held.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri will lead the ceremony.<\/p>\n
The nationwide broadcast ceremony starts at 10 a.m. sharp. It
\nwill feature the reading of the proclamation text by the
\nPresident, with the red-and-white flag hoisted by a group of high
\nschool students.<\/p>",
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