Open house event marks first time citizens enter the State Palace

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Thousands of citizens flocked to the State Palace in Jakarta on Saturday to attend the open house event (gelar griya) for Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah, which for many became their first opportunity to cross the gates and enter the grounds of the official residence of the President. Arief and Nisa, two among the thousands of attendees, stated that the visit was their first experience stepping foot in the palace environment. Previously, they admitted to having only seen the building’s structure on television screens. “It’s the first time (at the Palace),” said Arief and Nisa. The pair recounted that their presence was driven by curiosity about the conditions inside the State Palace area, which has generally been closed to the public. “Happy, we’ve been curious for a long time, right, about what’s inside (the Palace). Finally, when we entered, oh, this is what it feels like,” they revealed when met at the location. Amid the queues and interactions with other citizens, Arief and Nisa took the time to observe the architecture and atmosphere in the meeting area. They also documented the moment using their mobile phone cameras. “Beautiful (the Palace), we even took some photos earlier,” they continued. For Nisa, this year’s open house moment holds a special note because it coincides with her first time celebrating Lebaran in Jakarta. She appreciated the palace’s openness in welcoming the public. “Mr President, thank you for the invitation. This is the first Lebaran in Jakarta. Thank you,” said Nisa. In addition to sharing stories about their experience entering the Palace, the pair also conveyed hopes regarding the employment and education sectors in Indonesia for the future. “Hopefully, Indonesia’s job opportunities become easier and more abundant. And for university students, hopefully they can get scholarships,” they said. The open house event organised by President Prabowo Subianto serves as a gathering point for citizens from various regions to interact directly in the presidential environment during the holiday.