Jakarta in the mood for anniversary amid pressing difficulties
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In spite of various endemic problems, including garbage disposal, floods and public transportation, Jakartans are set to celebrate the city's 475th anniversary with a variety of activities.
The city administration will spend a total of Rp 1.5 billion (US$173,900) on the month-long celebration, which started on June 14 and will end on July 14.
Governor Sutiyoso is scheduled to deliver a speech to a plenary session of the City Council on Saturday morning followed by an official reception at City Hall in the evening to mark the anniversary.
The highlight of the festival will take place on Sunday with the annual carnival taking place along the city's main thoroughfares of Jl. Jend. Sudirman and Jl. M.H. Thamrin, Central Jakarta.
Three thousand participants and 750 floats and vehicles, including sedans belonging to the country's first president Sukarno and first vice president Mohammad Hatta, will take part in the parade.
Harley Davidson clubs, the Vespa club, the vintage jeep club and fire trucks will also join the parade, which will begin at Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta.
Marching bands, Betawi traditional dances, Liong (Chinese dragon dance), East Java's Reog Ponorogo and dances from Brazil, Mexico and South Africa will all be featured during the parade.
On Sunday evening, a public street party will be held near the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to inaugurate the reopening of the water fountain there following its renovation.
Thousands of residents are expected to flock to both main streets, which will be closed during the festival.
Due to the closure of the two streets, traffic from the Semanggi area will be redirected along Jl. K.H. Mas Mansur, Jl. Cideng Barat, Jl. Abdul Muis or Jl. Gatot Subroto.
Meanwhile, traffic from the Harmoni side will be rerouted along Jl. Juanda, Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur, the Tugu Tani area, Jl. Suryopranoto and Jl. K.H. Mas Mansur.
As well as the festival being staged by the administration, there is a host of other entertainment events being laid on for Jakartans over the weekend.
The Ancol Dreamland Park in North Jakarta will allow Jakartans free admission on Saturday only. The normal entrance charge is Rp 6,000 per person.
Ancol visitors can also enjoy the annual fireworks display at midnight, which will be attended by Sutiyoso and other officials.
The park management will also entertain visitors on the beach with a show by local performing artists. Various kinds of music, including Betawi (native Jakartan) gambang kromong traditional music, campur sari (Javanese) music and modern pop music will be featured.
Another big stage has also been set up by the organizers of the Jakarta Fair in the Jakarta Fairground, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, to entertain visitors.
Residents of East Jakarta can celebrate the anniversary at the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park) by watching the Betawi Mask Dance and gambang kromong traditional music. The event is being organized by the City Tourism Agency.
The agency will also mount a 10-day photographic exhibition on Jakarta at Plaza Senayan, Central Jakarta. The exhibition will feature the winning photos from a recent competition.