Fun games, festive food enhance celebrations

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)