Heroism, fun and joy all mixed together

Heroism, fun and joy all mixed together

Sudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

A heroic, but festive atmosphere has developed in most of the
country's residential areas over the past few days, as the nation
has been gearing up to celebrate Independence Day on Aug. 17.

City-dwellers or those living in kampongs in most parts of the
country have decorated their neighborhoods, homes, schools and
offices with the national red-and-white flag, banners and special
portals, while others have hung strings of colored lights to
commemorate the day.

Many, too, carry out a cleanliness drive to make their
surroundings cleaner, tidier and brighter by cutting overgrown
grass, clearing stray twigs and collecting garbage and disposing
of it.

In certain villages and kampongs, many erect wooden or bamboo-
gates adorned with statues of independence heroes at entrances to
villages, alleys or housing complexes.

Myriad events are being organized to celebrate the big day,
from challenging attractions to entertaining games, sporting
activities and live musical performances.

In many kampongs in greater Jakarta, neighborhood competitions
started a week ago, from soccer to badminton and from tennis to
chess.

"We must celebrate Independence Day because it is the most
historic day in the national calendar, even though the country
has yet to recover fully from the crisis," said Karman, from
Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta.

At SeaWorld's amphitheater in Ancol Dream Park, North Jakarta,
for instance, visitors will enjoy a special treat when seven
skilled divers raise the national flag at the bottom of a six-
meter-deep aquarium.

The 10-minute-long flag-raising ceremony will be held at 1
p.m. on Aug. 17, and should be quite a sight to behold, with the
red-and-white flag unfurled underwater.

"Indonesia is an archipelago, thus, we are accustomed to ocean
views, but celebrating Independence Day by raising the flag
underwater is unique, and something that will be remembered in
the years to come," said SeaWorld's marketing manager Agung
Nugroho.

The flag will measure 3 meters by 8 meters.

SeaWorld will also hold a somewhat challenging diving contest.
Contestants are required to dive and use their mouths to match a
small plastic fish with another "fish" at the bottom of a pool.

"Those who manage to match the fish will win prizes, such as a
gas stove, a rice-cooker and an electric iron," said Agung.

The palm-tree-climbing contest is an all-time favorite,
largely because of its good old fashioned entertainment value.
The participants, divided into several groups comprising of
between five to seven men or women, are required to climb the
palm tree to get prizes -- such as a bike, electronic items and
clothes -- which are hung from a wheel at the top.

The game is particularly amusing in the final stages, when
participants push and shove each other to get to the prizes.

At least 200 palm trees will be prepared for the competition,
which will be held on a sandy arena in front of the former Teater
Mobil building in Ancol Dream Park.

Visitors to Ancol Dream Park will be eligible for the
competition provided that they show an entrance ticket and ID
card, said Ancol Dream Park's program division head Kasan.

Residents living in Kalimalang, East Jakarta, will also hold
the palm tree contest along Kalimalang River on Independence Day.
The contest is usually followed by other games like pillow fights
above the muddy river and a duck-catching contest in the river.

Kerupuk-eating competitions are most popular with kampong
children. In the game, children race to finish eating local
shrimp crackers. The crackers are strung up in a row, and
participants must eat the crackers with their hands behind their
backs.

Other competition for children include five-a-side soccer
matches, egg-eating contests, spoon races, eel-catching contests
and sack races. Sporting activities are also held as part of the
celebrations, which will peak on Aug. 17.

Villages or kampongs started the activities long before the
celebrations to enable more residents to get into the right mood
for Independence Day.

"The day provides an opportunity for us to meet and talk,
through various sporting activities. Our goal is not to win the
competitions but to satisfy our need to gather together through
this event," said Heri, from Puri Sumberadi Asri housing complex
in Jumeneng Village, Sleman regency, Yogyakarta.

The 46-year-old father took part in a football match, one of
the sporting activities organized at the housing complex.

A live musical concert with the theme "A party for the people"
will highlight this special day, with major amusement centers
featuring dangdut music performances on Aug. 17. Dangdut is
popular music with a strong rhythm reminiscent of Hindi and
Arabic music.

Ancol Dream Park will present top dangdut vocalists such as
Rhoma Irama, Vetty Vera and Alam.

The jubilations will be solemn on the morning of Aug. 17, at
least at the presidential palace where a ceremony marking the
commemoration of Indonesia's 59th Independence Day will be held.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri will lead the ceremony.

The nationwide broadcast ceremony starts at 10 a.m. sharp. It
will feature the reading of the proclamation text by the
President, with the red-and-white flag hoisted by a group of high
school students.