TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Many memorable moments marked the celebration of the 80th Anniversary of Indonesia’s Independence at the Merdeka Palace on Sunday, August 17, 2025.
One highlight was when President Prabowo Subianto kissed the Indonesian flag, Merah Putih, before handing it to the flag bearer. This was his first time leading the ceremony as the inspecting officer at the Merdeka Palace.
He also read the proclamation text, a task previously performed by the Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR).
Here are some of the key highlights from the ceremony:
The Garuda Prabayaksa Chariot
Before the commemoration ceremony began, a procession carried a replica of the Indonesian flag and the proclamation text from the National Monument to the Merdeka Palace.
Purna Paskibraka members Kirana Asyawidya Baskara from Banten and Ni Komang Trisetya from Bali led the procession aboard the Garuda Prabayaksa Chariot, crafted in Sleman, Yogyakarta, to honor the 80th anniversary. The name, derived from ‘Praba’ and ‘Yaksa,’ signifies great or radiant light.
The chariot was escorted by soldiers wearing traditional Nusantara royal attire from all military command regions, symbolizing Indonesia’s cultural diversity and recalling the glory of ancient kingdoms.
The procession was also accompanied by 45 motorized units from the Presidential Security Guard’s Military Police Battalion, including 15 female soldiers, with the number 45 representing the year of independence.
A contingent of 145 cavalry troops and a combined drum corps from the Military, Naval, and Air Force academies further enriched the parade.
Doves Perching on the Ceremony Leader
A flock of doves was released during the event, adding to the solemnity of the celebration. Some even perched playfully on the head of the ceremony leader.
Traditional Attire of the President and Vice President
Prabowo left the palace at around 10:00 AM to lead the ceremony wearing a beskap with ivory trousers, a brown woven cloth tied around his waist, and a black peci, complemented by a jasmine garland.
Gerindra Deputy Secretary-General Sufmi Dasco Ahmad described his outfit as traditional Malay attire. Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka and his family appeared in Kerawang Gayo traditional dress, with Gibran in black and his wife, Selvi, in red Palembang attire.
Formation 80
At 10:15 AM, the flag-raising ceremony began. Marching firmly into the field, the Paskibraka troops wore white uniforms with the Garuda emblem on their peci. Led by commander Bianca, the troops formed the number 80 on the grass, symbolizing the nation’s 80th Independence Day.
Bianca, along with flag hoister Farrel Argantha Irawan and flag raiser El Rayyi Mujahid Faqih, carried out the ceremony with precision. As the flag unfurled, applause erupted and the national anthem Indonesia Raya rang out while the troops saluted.
Silat Performance by Iko Uwais
Actor Iko Uwais, together with 2011 SEA Games gold medalist Eko Wahyudi, performed a spirited pencak silat routine before the president.
They were joined by dancers from the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association, wearing black tops with batik pants, while female dancers appeared in pink costumes. The performance blended martial arts with violin interludes, earning nods and smiles of approval from Prabowo.
Pacu Jalur and Tabola Bale
The closing segment of the celebration featured a blend of traditional and modern performances. After the flag-raising, the audience enjoyed a tug-of-war known as pacu jalur, the Balinese pendet dance, pencak silat, and the popular Tabola Bale song.
Hundreds of performers then created a formation resembling a boat, with Rayyan Arkan Dhika at the peak, before breaking into the pacu jalur dance accompanied by the song Sajojo. The performance drew enthusiastic applause from Prabowo and the cabinet, with some officials joining the dance.
Later, singers Silet Open Up and Diva Aurel led the crowd in Tabola Bale. Several officials, including the President, Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and First Lady Iriana Jokowi, joined in dancing.
Amid cheers, Prabowo was invited onto the field, where he briefly danced along before the Presidential Security Detail dispersed the crowd.
Yunia Pratiwi and Hendrik Yaputra contributed to the writing of this article.
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