Indonesian Independence Day
August is an important month for the Republic of Indonesia because the population celebrates Independence Day on the 17th of August. Also, the nation is still considered young for a country as large and as developed as Indonesia.
Many traditions and histories are tied to Indonesian Independence Day, and everyone celebrates this important occasion via various activities. If you're an expatriate or a tourist who has just arrived in Indonesia in August and are staying until the 17th, ensure that you don't miss the celebrations!
The History of Indonesia's Independence Day
Indonesia's struggle for independence was uphill and difficult. Under Dutch colonial rule for 350 years, when World War II broke out, the Japanese took over Indonesia not long after they bombed Pearl Harbor. Life in Indonesia did not improve under the Japanese occupation; some historical records show that, as a country, Indonesia suffered more in 3.5 years than in 350 years, as the Japanese were even more ruthless than the Dutch.
When Hiroshima was bombed on 6 August, followed by Nagasaki on 9 August, it prompted the Japanese to surrender. Though the Independence Committee was prepared by the Japanese, many Indonesian activists refused to wait for independence to be given as a gift.
At dawn on 16 August, Achmad Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta were kidnapped by young activists to a house in Rengasdengklok, West Java. This was carried out to convince them to declare independence as they were the chairman and vice-chairman of the Independence Committee formed on 7 August. Sukarno refused at first because he wasn't sure Japan had surrendered, but the young activists were relentless.
Once they returned to Jakarta, Mohammad Hatta and Achmad Sukarno drafted the declaration of independence at the house of Tadashi Maeda, the Japanese Rear Admiral. At first, the plan was to declare independence at Merdeka Square in front of the public but, afraid that the Japanese army would disrupt the ceremony, it was then decided that the proclamation of Indonesian independence would be held at Sukarno's house on Friday, 17 August 1945 at 10 AM. The proklamasi (proclamation) text was signed by Sukarno and Hatta, and the ceremony was simple and short. Sukarno read the Declaration of Independence with Mohammad Hatta at his side, followed by the Indonesian flag of red and white, sewn by Sukarno's wife Fatmawati, hoisted while the Indonesian national anthem, Indonesia Raya, was sung.
Indonesia After Independence Day
The battle was not finished even when the proclamation of independence was declared. The Indonesian National Revolution soon followed due to the Dutch government's refusal to accept Indonesia's sovereignty, resulting in an armed conflict known as Operation Product in 1947 and 1948, then the diplomatic struggle after some failed agreements with the Dutch government at that time under the reign of Queen Wilhelmina.
Despite many political struggles, Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta, Indonesia's first president and vice-president, tried their best to stabilise the country. The constitution of Indonesia was written between June and August 1945, when the Independence Committee was still in operation. It acts as the supreme law and basis for all laws of Indonesia, known as Undang-Undang Dasar Negara Republic Indonesia Tahun 1945 (The 1945 State Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia), with Pancasila as the nation's foundational philosophical theory.
After some failed agreements, the Dutch government finalised the sovereignty transfer on 27 December 1949, four and a half years after independence had been declared.
The Independence Day Celebration
The government declared a national holiday in 1946 to commemorate Independence Day. Also known to Indonesian people as Hari Kemerdekaan; the day is filled with ceremonies and celebrations across the archipelago.
During the month of August, the red and white flag of Indonesia must be hoisted in every household, public place, educational institution, office building, private and public transportation facility, and Indonesian diplomatic office abroad to commemorate the 1945 Proclamation of Indonesian Independence.
National Level
These are the annual national celebrations during the public holiday on the 17th of August:
The flag-hoisting ceremony at Istana Merdeka/Merdeka Palace in Jakarta is attended by the president, vice president, government officials, ambassadors, foreign defense attachés, former Indonesian presidents and vice presidents, and other invited guests. This year, the ceremony will take place in the new capital of Indonesia, IKN (Ibu Kota Nusantara) in Kalimantan.
At 10 AM, the commemoration of Independence Day is remembered with a 17-gun salute from the National Monument (Monas), the reading of the proclamation text by the speaker of the House of Representatives, and a moment of silence.
The flag hoisting by the National Flag Hoisting Troop consists of selected high school students from all over the country, accompanied by the tune of Indonesia Raya, the national anthem. The flypast then follows soon after.
The National Flag Lowering Ceremony occurs at 5 PM when the President and Vice President are present. They receive the flag back from the flag carriers. The ceremony is usually accompanied by marching bands and traditional dance performances.
Regional Level
The same ceremony also occurs on a smaller scale at a regional level, although the most awaited festivities are the games and the carnival. From the housing complexes to the villages, the games are an inseparable part of the celebrations to welcome Independence Day. The carnival or the day parade is usually followed by school students, government offices, and public sectors.
Some of the traditional games that are being held and are always a joy for local people:
Lomba Makan Kerupuk (Kerupuk-eating race), where the crackers are hung on a thread, and the contestants must eat them with their hands behind their backs
Panjat Pinang is a famous traditional game where men cooperate to climb the greased pole to get to the top, as the organisers have put the prizes on top and they have to retrieve them
A sack race is where contestants have to run wearing a potato sack
The marble race is often designed for kids, where they have to hold the spoon with a marble between their lips and get to the finish line without dropping the marble.
Where to Watch The Flag Hoisting Ceremony and The Fun Games?
Though never intended as a tourism activity, watching Indonesia's Independence Day celebrations is something you will not see every day. So, if you're in Indonesia during this time, be sure to check them out.
The Flag Hoisting Ceremony is always broadcast nationwide, so you can catch it on the local television channel. But if you want to watch some traditional games or regional flag-hoisting ceremonies, here are a few places in Bali you need to check out:
📍 Lapangan Kantor Desa Tibubeneng
Like every nation worldwide, Independence Day is a national celebration, and Indonesia is no different. President Sukarno and Vice-President Mohammad Hatta may be regarded as the founding fathers of Indonesia, but the national pride of many unsung heroes who have helped Indonesia gain independence is also worth remembering and celebrating.
And if you are in Indonesia during the festivities, don't forget to chant 'Merdeka!' or 'freedom' with the locals. They will be ecstatic to hear it.
Hi everyone! My name is Catur, and I was born and raised in Central Java. I moved to Bali in 2011 but left the island in 2016 before returning in 2018. Bali feels more than a home to me, and maybe that’s why my name feels like a premonition. Catur means four, both in the Balinese and Javanese languages. It is spoken like ‘c’ in chess, which is also the meaning of my name in Indonesian.