Have you ever wondered what kind of activities to celebrate Indonesia’s Independence day? The country celebrates Independence Day every 17th of August yearly, which would be so rousing in most of the Indonesian region including some of the traditional villages in Indonesia.
The celebration of the Independence Day of Indonesia is always become the day that has been waiting for a year for most Indonesian. Most of them will take some activities to celebrate Indonesia Independence Day to reminisce about the patriotism of the Indonesian hero before.
If you are wondering what kind of activities to celebrate Indonesia Independence Day, here we have some of them on the list below. Let’s check them out!
1. Decorating Day
Most Indonesian would be so enthusiastic every time the month of August comes through the country. They will start to decorate the house, the street, and public facilities that relate to Indonesia. The decorating day will start on the first day of August, which makes the country would be full of the color of the Indonesian flag.
Most public facilities such as hospitals, banks, malls, markets, and other places will decorate the places as well, including putting out the Indonesian flag in front of the building for the whole month. Every house including some on the smallest island in Indonesia commonly does the same, and they would decorate them with Indonesian flag ornaments.
2. Tirakatan
Tirakatan is one of the most popular activities to celebrate Indonesia’s Independence day that commonly done by local Indonesian in some Javanese and Yogyakarta. This kind of tradition is always held every year, specifically the night before 17th August come.
Tirakatan is a kind of tradition that gathered all people to have some gratitude towards the God Almighty. They would be having some feast that contains Nasi Tumpeng and other traditional foods, as well. They would be gathered around and eat them all together at the place and you need to put concerned about some things not to bring in Indonesia during this tradition.
3. Flag Ceremony
One of the most popular activities to celebrate Indonesia’s Independence Day is conducting the flag ceremony to reminisce about the Independence Day of Indonesia. The country will hold the ceremony in Istana Negara attended by the president, vice president, ministries, and some Indonesian rights at the date of 17th August.
Every school, government bank, government office, and other institution also held the flag ceremony. Most people of Indonesia can follow the flag ceremony at home by watching it live via the Istana Negara channel or Indonesian television station list.
4. Visiting the Tomb of Indonesian Heroes
After the flag ceremony is done, most Indonesian commonly visit the tomb of Indonesian heroes to do the pilgrimage honoring them. This kind of activity is one of the most popular activities to celebrate Indonesia’s Independence Day. Everyone could come, not only the presidents and their staff in the government office.
The pilgrimage to the tomb of Indonesian heroes is commonly also done by some family members of the heroes. They would spread the flowers around the tomb, and make some prayers to god as the gratitude form to reminiscing their struggle before.
5. Independence Contest
There will be so many contests that will be held on the day of 17th August after the flag ceremony is done. This kind of contest becomes one of the most awaited for activities to celebrate Indonesia’s Independence Day. Most people will attend this kind of contest that is commonly held in most Indonesian regions.
There will be many contests you can attend, such as Panjat Pinang, Balap Karung, Sendok Kelrereng, eating Kerupuk or prawn crackers, Balap Bakiak, Tarik Tambang, cooking contest, running the contest, and many more.
6. Hiking to the Mountain
Hiking to the mountain is one of the most popular activities to celebrate Indonesia Independence Day, that commonly done by youth generations. You will find so many popular mountains in Indonesia crowded by hikers from the beginner level to the pro ones.
Not only hiking, but commonly they would put out the Indonesian flag at the top of the mountain and have a simple flag ceremony there. This kind of activities becomes such a tradition that volunteers followed by Indonesian youth who love hiking or climbing the mountain the most.
7. Watching Movies
There would be so many movies about Indonesian Independence Day that is worth watching. This kind of activity becomes one of the most popular activities to celebrate Indonesia Independence Day for most Indonesian. Whether they have done it by watching those movies in the cinema or at home, the celebration vibe still influenced them.
Most movies will come with a struggle vibe to get independence that would influence most Indonesian to reminisce about the struggle of the Indonesian heroes decades ago. This time can be so one of the most emotional moments for most Indonesian.
8. Exploring the Historical Places
Exploring the historical places around Indonesia can be one of the most popular activities to celebrate Indonesia’s Independence Day. Whether going to museums or some historical places would bring most Indonesian into the real experience of facing the proof of the struggle of Indonesian heroes to win independence.
By exploring the historical places in Indonesia such as some cultural heritage in Indonesia, most Indonesian would teach the next generation to reminisce about the patriotism of Indonesian heroes. That would make them give the best honored to the Indonesian heroes significantly.
So, there are some of the most popular activities to celebrate Indonesia Independence Day that you can do when visiting Indonesia during August. Are you ready to participate in one of those activities? Let’s pack your bag and plan your trip to have them all celebrate the next Indonesia Independence Day on August.
