ISLAMABAD: Marking the beginning of celebrations for the 79th anniversary, Indonesian nationals on Saturday morning gathered for festive activities starting with a walk despite a rainy morning.

Guests along with their families gathered at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Islamabad to celebrate the Indonesian National Day, which would be officially commemorated on August 17.

In his welcoming remarks, Ferry J. Murdiansyah, who is chief of the Indonesian Embassy’s Independence Day Committee, expressed gratitude to the Indonesian nationals who traveled from various cities, including Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujrat, Sialkot, Faisalabad and Abbottabad. He also acknowledged the coordinators who had supported the embassy’s mission to protect its nationals in Pakistan.

The celebrations began with a three-kilometre fun walk through the Diplomatic Enclave where participants donned red and white t-shirts, symbolising the colours of the Indonesian flag. The walk concluded at the embassy where participants were greeted with refreshments and surprise gifts.

Following the walk, the day continued with a series of traditional games, known as ‘Lomba 17an’ in Indonesian. These games included badminton, table tennis, volleyball and futsal, as well as popular Indonesian traditional games like tug of war (Tarik Tambang), wooden clog race (Lomba Bakiak), sack race (Balap Karung) and spoon-marble race (Lomba Kelereng). A colouring competition for children was also featured, highlighting the cultural richness of Indonesia and providing entertainment for both participants and spectators.

Charge d’Affaires Rahmat Hindiarta Kusuma spoke about the symbolic importance of the fun walk, especially in the rain, drawing a parallel to the struggles faced by Indonesia’s founding fathers and mothers in their fight for independence.

“Independence is not the end of our journey,” he remarked, quoting Indonesia’s first president Sukarno: “It is the golden bridge towards justice and prosperity.”

Kusuma also introduced Indonesia’s 79th Independence Day logo and theme, ‘New Nusantara, Advanced Indonesia’, highlighting the nation’s significant project of relocating its capital from Jakarta to the newly-planned Nusantara City. He emphasised that Nusantara was envisioned as more than just a capital city - it represented a long-term vision for the nation’s future.

Participants expressed their joy in attending the event. Muna, an Indonesian national married to a Pakistani, shared her happiness in reconnecting with friends and enjoying traditional meals.

Andalusia, from Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, echoed similar sentiments, expressing delight in sharing the event with her Pakistani family.

To add to the festivities, special food stalls were set up by Indonesian students, offering popular dishes such as Rendang, Nasi Goreng, Nasi Padang, Mie Goreng and traditional soups like Soto, providing a taste of home for the attendees.

The embassy is now gearing up for the main events, the Indonesian Expo 2024 at Centaurus Mall from August 16-18, and the flag hoisting ceremony on August 17, which would serve as the centerpiece of the Independence Day celebrations.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2024