Festive mood rules the day
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A festive mood prevailed through most parts of the country when Indonesians observed the 57th anniversary of their independence on Saturday.
Merdeka Palace was the center of celebrations with the annual hoisting of the flag in full military ceremony.
But unlike in the past, the original flag hoisted in 1945 was not a part of the ceremony due to its fragile condition.
The ceremony, presided over by President Megawati Soekarnoputri, was attended by Vice President Hamzah Haz as well as other top state officials, foreign ambassadors, veterans and other dignitaries.
As last year, none of the former presidents showed up for the celebration. Try Sutrisno and Sudharmono were the only former vice presidents seen among the guests.
Most of the family of founding president Sukarno participated in the celebration, except for Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, who instead appeared on a television show, where she criticized her sister Megawati.
Pictures of all the former presidents from Sukarno to Megawati's predecessor, Abdurrahman Wahid, adorn the way leading to the palace's hall.
One of the ceremony's main attractions was the appearance of family members of both Megawati and Hamzah. Their children wore the same white-and-red kebaya traditional dress and suit as the President and Vice President.
Megawati was dressed in a white-and-red kebaya created by noted designer Samuel Wattimena.
Elsewhere, the independence anniversary was celebrated by residents from all walks of life.
Jakarta residents flocked to recreational sites, such as Ancol beach in North Jakarta, causing heavy traffic congestion along the major routes there.
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) in East Jakarta also saw a significant rise in the number of visitors who came to watch, among other performances, the barongsai (lion dance) and wayang kulit (shadow puppet) show.
In other parts of the city, residents gathered to celebrate by staging carnivals, games and other activities.
Suharyoso, a resident of Cempaka Baru, Central Jakarta, said the celebrations' atmosphere this year was merrier and more entertaining compared to last year.
The community had raised Rp 2 million (US$227) to finance the festivities.
The most popular events were the decorated bike parade, greased-pole climbing, a contest where participants tried to catch eels and transfer them to other tanks, chess and domino tournaments, as well as a karaoke singing contest.
The celebrations were not limited only to Indonesians as several tourists also took part in the events held on Jl. Jaksa, Central Jakarta. Unlike last year's celebration when the tourists were purposely invited, this year's participation was more spontaneous and enjoyable.
Business was relatively slow at several shopping centers in Glodok and Mangga Dua, West Jakarta, with many vendors deciding to close up shop, allowing the usually busy areas to become quiet for the rest of the day.
In Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara, thousands of pro-Indonesia East Timorese refugees renewed their allegiance to the country during a flag-hoisting ceremony at the Noelbaki refugee camp in Kupang regency.
About 1,000 refugees attended the ceremony, which also saw them read a six-point political statement expressing their loyalty to Indonesia.
"Independence Day reminds us of our own choice to integrate with Indonesia in 1976, which vanished with the help of an international conspiracy," Armindo Soares, the chairman of an umbrella group of East Timorese refugees, the Uni Timor Asawain (Untas), told The Jakarta Post.
In other parts of the country, residents took part in traditional boat races, such as in Palembang and Jambi.
Meanwhile, people in the South Kalimantan capital of Banjarmasin held a mass prayer in remembrance of the national heroes who fell in their fight for independence.