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.