Fun games, festive food enhance celebrations
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
One alleyway in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, has been spruced up with a new decorative gateway to welcome in Independence Day.
However, unlike other ceremonial gateways built around the city in August, this one leads to a line of ruined houses where more than 1,000 people used to live.
Independence Day celebrations were just over 24 hours away when a large fire destroyed more than 400 semipermanent houses in 14 neighborhood communities alongside Jl. Tanah Pasir on Monday.
Witnesses reported that the fire started when a household stove exploded at 6:15 p.m.
The firefighters, who could not get close enough to the densely populated neighborhood, took until 4 a.m. the next day to put the fire out.
One resident was treated at Atma Jaya Hospital after falling off the roof of his house while battling the blaze.
"We planned a tumpengan (communal dinner) on the night of Aug. 17," said Sri, who lost her home in the fire. "It is only a plan now. Most of us only have the clothes that we are wearing."
Most of the residents were sheltered in a nearby low-cost apartment block and three tents that were set up at the Penjaringan district office.
Meanwhile, luckier residents in other parts of the city held all-day gatherings, games and food festivals in their neighborhoods.
Some in the plush Menteng area, Central Jakarta, held a gathering in a small park between Jl. Panarukan, Jl. Tasikmalaya and Jl. Lumajang.
"I have attended this garden party for the past four years to meet my old friends," prominent businesswoman Dewi Motik Pramono said.
Well-known batik painter Iwan Tirta, who lives just across from the garden, also joined the gathering, opening a batik stall and taking time to work on his creations.
"I think Menteng residents nowadays don't really know their own neighbors since people are allowed to build high fences in front of their houses," Iwan said.
"Four years ago when we started this gathering, only 15 people were involved. But now you can see how many are taking part."
Children, the elderly, maids, security guards and drivers were seen in the garden, enjoying dinner, games, the bazaar, and a series of storytelling performances from members of the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi).
In the eastern part of the city, less well-off residents of Cipinang Melayu, riverbank squatters and passersby joined in the bolster fighting and the greased pole climbing sessions over the Kalimalang River.
Prizes for the winners of these competitions included electric fans, clothing, VCD players and clocks.
The traffic on Jl. Kalimalang slowed to a standstill as motorists stopped to watch the games there.(003/004)