Megawati pays respects at Bung Karno's grave in Blitar

Jakarta - Indonesia’s 5th President and Chairwoman of the PDI Perjuangan Central Executive Board, Megawati Soekarnoputri, made a pilgrimage to the tomb of the Proclamator and Indonesia’s first President, Soekarno, in Blitar, East Java, on Sunday afternoon. “Making a pilgrimage to Bung Karno’s tomb is Ibu Megawati’s way of tending the flame of struggle that never dies. Amid the increasingly complex dynamics of the nation, Bung Karno taught that a leader must always return to the roots, to the people, and to the values of Pancasila,” said PDI Perjuangan Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto in a statement received in Jakarta on Sunday. Megawati, who arrived from Bali and landed at Dhoho Airport in Kediri, was immediately greeted enthusiastically by a line of waiting cadres. Hundreds of cadres from Blitar and Malang were seen crowding the location to welcome the daughter of Bung Karno directly. From the airport, Megawati and her entourage proceeded to Blitar. In the entourage, Megawati was accompanied by her son, M. Prananda Prabowo, as well as her great-grandchild, along with other extended family members, namely Puti Guntur Soekarno and Romy Soekarno. Megawati then walked towards the crowd. She took the hands of three children, one boy and two girls, and engaged in dialogue with them. After the dialogue, Megawati bid farewell to the public and walked towards her car. Then, a woman in a yellow shirt pushed forward towards Megawati and called her “Bunda Mega” while reaching out her hand to shake. Megawati smiled, stopped, and took the woman’s hand. Afterwards, Megawati and Prananda got into the car and departed for their resting location. Since 2023, Megawati has made several pilgrimages to her father’s tomb. On 21 June 2024, in the context of the 54th Haul Commemoration of Bung Karno, Megawati made the pilgrimage accompanied by her sister Sukmawati Soekarnoputri. Then, in November 2025, Megawati made a pilgrimage coinciding with the 70th Anniversary of the Asian-African Conference. On 29 March 2026, Megawati made a pilgrimage and offered prayers for the nation together with Guruh Soekarnoputra, Sukmawati Soekarnoputri, and Puti Guntur Soekarno. PDI Perjuangan’s elite ranks were also seen accompanying Megawati during the pilgrimage, including Hasto Kristiyanto, Deddy Yevri Sitorus, Darmadi Durianto, Ronny Talapessy, and Said Abdullah. Also present were Connie Rahakundini Bakrie, a close friend of Megawati, and House of Representatives member Samuel Wattimena.