Prabowo Leads Flag-Lowering Ceremony with Solemnity

President Prabowo Subianto served as the inspector of the Flag-Lowering Ceremony for the 81st Anniversary of Indonesian Independence at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Monday (17/8) afternoon.

The Flag-Lowering Ceremony began at approximately 4:40 p.m. Western Indonesia Time. Prabowo led the proceedings, which were attended by the flag-raising troops as well as a number of state officials and invited guests.

The ceremony concluded after the Paskibraka Indonesia Adil Makmur team successfully lowered the Red and White Flag.

Police Senior Commissioner Jerrold Hendra Yosef Kumontoy served as Ceremony Commander. Meanwhile, Neeltje Deliana Insjowi Werimon from Papua was selected as the bearer of the tray for the lowering of the Red and White Flag.

After it was successfully lowered, the Red and White Flag was handed over by Neeltje to President Prabowo as the ceremony inspector.

Afterwards, the Red and White Flag and the proclamation text were carried back by the procession entourage towards the National Monument (Monas).

Prabowo appeared in Malay-style attire for the Flag-Lowering Ceremony that afternoon. He wore a long, high-collared cream beskap top paired with matching trousers.

The outfit was completed with a brown-toned songket cloth worn at the waist, a black peci cap, and a necklace of jasmine flowers that hung down to his chest.

This appearance differed from the attire Prabowo wore when leading the Proclamation Seconds Commemoration Ceremony in the morning.

At that time, Prabowo wore navy blue Teluk Belanga Malay traditional clothing paired with matching trousers. The outfit was completed with a copper-brown songket cloth wrapped around the waist, a black peci cap, and a necklace resembling a jasmine garland hanging at the chest.

During the Proclamation Seconds Commemoration Ceremony that morning, Prabowo led the proceedings which took place at approximately 10:00 a.m. Western Indonesia Time at Merdeka Palace.

A number of figures and members of the public who received invitations also attended the series of events for the 81st Anniversary of Indonesian Independence. In the earlier guidance, female guests were encouraged to wear regional traditional attire with red-and-white nuances, while male guests were encouraged to wear Teluk Belanga Malay attire.