Kampung Rambutan Terminal celebrates Independence Day with bus-pulling contest
Kampung Rambutan Terminal in Ciracas, East Jakarta, held a double-decker intercity bus-pulling contest to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Indonesia’s independence.
“The bus-pulling contest here is quite interesting. There are two sessions, one for men and one for women. It is quite entertaining for passengers at this bus terminal as well,” said Revi Zulkarnain, head of Kampung Rambutan Bus Terminal, at the competition site in East Jakarta on Tuesday.
Two double-decker buses belonging to PO Sinar Jaya and Rosalia Indah were prepared for the competition. Both were lined up at the starting line, and the front bumpers of the buses had been fitted with large ropes measuring approximately 30 to 50 metres in length.
Each team consisted of around 25 people. They had to work together to pull the rope with all their strength so that the bus would move until it crossed the finish line.
According to Revi, the bus-pulling contest did not require special preparation. Participants had previously been informed about the mechanism and how to pull the bus.
“There is no special preparation, but beforehand there was indeed notification about how to pull the bus and what it would be like. It was all done spontaneously,” said Revi.
Meanwhile, members of the public and passengers at the terminal also watched the competition.
In addition to being a competitive event, each contest was also designed to create a relaxed and joyful atmosphere. Participants who emerged as winners received prizes and money from the organising committee.
Furthermore, Revi said that various unique and entertaining competitions were held involving around 500 participants consisting of terminal managers, community groups, administrators and employees of bus companies, traders, passengers, and residents living around the terminal.
A number of competitions held included pocong racing, pocong sack racing, balloon dancing, table tennis, musical chairs, and tug-of-war.
Revi said that the current generation has the task of filling the nation’s independence through various positive activities that can provide benefits to the community.
“At present, we commemorate it as the nation’s successors with what we can do to fill independence, doing good for the community so that they can benefit from it,” he said.
After the competitions, the public was also entertained with a stage featuring dangdut music. In addition, the committee also handed out prizes to the winners of a karaoke competition that had been held previously.
Social activities were also part of the celebration series. The committee prepared donations for orphans from the Kampung Rambutan Terminal community.
“Later, there will also be donations for orphans. These orphans are members of the community at the terminal, including children of traders, orphans of bus company administrators, bus company workers, or drivers at Kampung Rambutan Bus Terminal,” explained Revi.
Revi expressed hope that the 81st Independence Day commemoration activities would strengthen the relationship among all members of the community who work at Kampung Rambutan Terminal.