Bogor Palace opens to residents for 81st Indonesian Independence Day
Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java opened to residents of Bogor City through a public banquet held to mark the 81st anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia on Monday.
Bogor Mayor Dedie A. Rachim said the event provided an opportunity for the public to enter and see firsthand the atmosphere of the palace, which many had previously only viewed from outside its fences.
“Hopefully this becomes a tradition in which there is no distance between the public and the government, so that people are not only seeing from outside the fence, but can directly view an asset of our nation that is very beautiful and located in the heart of Bogor City,” he said.
He said the residents attending the public banquet at Bogor Palace were from underprivileged communities, or the first decile group, drawn from 68 urban wards across Bogor City.
The local ward governments facilitated transport for residents to take part in the event. After the activities concluded, they also received gift parcels to take home.
Dedie explained that the public banquet was organised through cooperation between Bogor Presidential Palace, the Bogor City Government and the local Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda).
“Bogor is very grateful for the public banquet from President Prabowo Subianto, so the Head of Bogor Presidential Palace worked together with the Bogor City Government and Forkopimda to invite representatives from 68 urban wards in Bogor City to take part in the public banquet,” he said.
Before attending the public banquet, Dedie, together with Deputy Mayor of Bogor Jenal Mutaqin and thousands of residents, took part in the Proclamation Seconds Commemoration Ceremony and the raising of the red-and-white flag virtually from the grounds of Bogor Presidential Palace.
The ceremony, which began at 10.00 Western Indonesia Time, was led by President Prabowo Subianto at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.
During the proceedings, Bogor City Government officials and members of the public mingled freely without any barriers.
Before the public banquet began, residents also joined in a collective prayer led by Habib Hasan for communities affected by the earthquake disaster.
Afterwards, the public enjoyed various activities across the Bogor Presidential Palace grounds, ranging from a culinary banquet, competitions and entertainment to prize-giving.
Children were also able to play in the play area provided within the palace complex, while other residents strolled around and enjoyed the atmosphere of the grounds.
Dedie, together with Jenal and other Forkopimda officials, expressed appreciation to President Prabowo for organising the public banquet for the people of Bogor City.
“From Bogor Palace we express our gratitude to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto,” said Dedie, echoed by the residents visiting the palace.