The Long Freedom in Indonesia

of

pomp

and

circumstance

and

conducted

basically the same way each year, it is a spectacle

our

of the greatest respect and honor for the flag and

Independence Day. Unlike some countries who

the Republic. The ceremonies are led by the

celebrate it by using fireworks. We Indonesian

Preside

On

August

17,

we

celebrated

celebrate it with a fun tournament.

This year, August 17 is no longer on

I have shared about what we used to call as

Ramdhan month. As usual, Bits school will invite

Tujuh Belas Agustusan (Seventeen August) three

all parents, and all students (including play group)

years ago> here. For the past three years, August

to participate on the flag-hoisting ceremony, and

17 fell on Ramadhan month where most muslims

than after to also participate on a traditional

are fasting, so there werent many tournaments

Independence Day games; you name it; lomba

held. Independence day Flag-raising ceremony

makan kerupuk (crackers eating race), lomba lari

may only take 30-45 minutes, regularly, but how

karung (hamper race), lomba panjat pohon pinang

many of us can actually stand up properly, and

(palm tree climbing) and lomba tarik tambang

saluting the Sang Saka Merah Putih without any

(rope pull competition). My village held two

distraction.

tournaments, one for parents (last week) and one

The most solemn ceremony is the flag

hoisting at the National Palace, televised live. Full

for children .
This kind of tournament is always fun, we
shout together, we cheer our friend, we laugh at

funny things that happen, and most of allwe

bottle (the pencil is strapped behind their back),

bond as one, we are a team.

eating kerupuk (Indonesian cracker), Balap karung

Here are a glimpse of the fun on my village

(racing in a sack)

during our celebration of Independence Day. Three

For Grade 6 Grade 8: Moving a glass of

determined parents trying to put a thread into a

water using a kind of tablecloth, stabilizing a

needle. Here are the students . A little cram

tennis ball with a pipe and rope (highly require

during Tarik Tambang. These girls really try hard to

cooperation); Flying carpet, Bakiak race (theres a

win

kind of sandal for four people, they have to walk

There are more games I couldnt take picture

together at the same time or they all will fall),

of because I was quite busy. I was one of the

Eating

committees.

tambang (pulling a rope in group)

The games were:

Kerupuk

(Indonesian

cracker),

Tarik

For Grade 9 Grade 10: Moving a glass of

water using a kind of tablecloth, stabilizing a

For Pre-K and Kindergarten: Take one flag at

tennis ball with a pipe and rope (highly require

a time and put it in a bottle; Bring a marble on a

cooperation);

Flying

carpet,

Eating

Kerupuk

spoon (special spoon for little kids), and arranging

(Indonesian cracker), Tarik tambang (pulling a

wooden block as tall as possible.

rope in group)

For lower elementary: Bring a marble on a

The games were all fun and most of my

spoon (normal spoon), Putting a pencil inside a

students enjoyed the games. 17 Agustusan is

never about winning, its more about the fun .The

it would be extra fun to win .
My family (I am their family) won 3 games.
In Bali, the celebration of Independence Day
is not as excessive as in other Indonesian
provinces. The Balinese usually decorate their
house in red and white decoration and put a flag
in front of their house and school kids and workers
attend the flag. But unlike most of Indonesia
competitions are only in some areas, mainly in the
larger towns.
Some of the younger Balinese marks
Independence Day with concerts or philanthropic
acts like visiting an orphanage, a senior citizens
home or by donating blood.