One of the biggest days in the calendar for Indonesian people is Indonesia’s Independence Day. An independent Indonesia only came about in 1945 and thus, for the local people, this is a very special time of year, indeed.
Indonesian people celebrate Independence Day on August 17, 1945. This reminds them that the Indonesian nation declared itself as the Republic of Indonesia and was free from Dutch colonial rule that had lasted for more than a hundred years previously.
This festival is known locally as the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia (often shortened to “HUT RI”) or sometimes simply referred to as Independence Day. In Indonesia, this day can also be called “Tujuhbelasan” which means “Seventeenth”.
Independence Day was established as an official holiday on the first anniversary of the day in 1946. It is not an easy thing for a country to declare independence and it is considered a good idea to immortalize the moment for the people of Indonesia.
Indonesians usually hold parades and carnivals to celebrate Independence Day, but usually, they are not held on the 17th unless it is on a weekend. Parades are usually held on the Saturday or Sunday after Independence Day and are often organized by residents.
The participants usually wear traditional or patriotic clothing. You can find marching bands, floats, and more as part of these parades. There is also a national carnival, which used to be held in Jakarta, Central Java, but is now held in a different area each year. This carnival is the largest and most exciting carnival to commemorate Independence.
In celebrating Independence Day, local people always know the best way to celebrate it while promoting their culture. To maintain this independence, the Indonesian people must unite. And with this unity, they can maintain sovereignty. They must also work together and collaborate to create justice and prosperity for all Indonesian people.
–sh
