Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Jakarta held a grand celebration for Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day on Sunday, August 17, 2025, with a series of events including cultural performances, carnivals, and public festivities across the capital.
The government has prepared a lineup of public events ranging from the “Pesta Rakyat” (People’s Festival) and the Independence Carnival to traditional competitions and cultural performances.
The celebrations will include a flag parade, a reading of the proclamation text, street carnivals, and art showcases, alongside food festivals and live music featuring some of the country’s top performers.
For the first time, the Presidential Palace will host a Pesta Rakyat, highlighting regional cuisine from street vendors and cultural performances from across Indonesia.
Meanwhile, at the National Monument (Monas), the festival will run all day with traditional contests, live entertainment, free food from small businesses, and a fireworks show at night.
Other key locations for the celebrations include Sarinah Thamrin, the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout, and Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, ensuring festivities spread across Jakarta’s central landmarks.
Authorities have released a full schedule detailing the venues and events for the August 17 celebrations, which are expected to draw massive public participation with events centered around the Presidential Palace and the National Monument (Monas).
At the Presidential Palace, the program will feature cultural performances, the flag-raising ceremony, and a parade leading to Monas. The schedule includes:
- Cultural performances starting at 7:25 a.m. local time
- The proclamation ceremony at 10:00 a.m.
- Additional cultural performances at 3:30 p.m.
- The lowering of the national flag at 5:00 p.m.
- A parade returning the national flag and the original text of Indonesia’s proclamation at 5:45 p.m.
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Monas will also serve as a major hub for festivities. According to the State Secretariat’s official Instagram account, the area will host a lively people’s festival featuring a night market, food fair, and concerts by popular Indonesian musicians including Judika, D’Masiv, and Netral.
Events at Monas are scheduled as follows:
- A ceremonial parade of the national flag and the proclamation text to the Presidential Palace at 7:00 a.m.
- The people’s festival from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and again from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- A carnival beginning at 7:30 p.m. with a route stretching from Monas through Jalan M.H. Thamrin, the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout, and Jalan Jenderal Sudirman.
In addition to the official program, visitors will be able to join traditional competitions at Monas, including pole climbing, tug-of-war, sack races, chess, cracker-eating contests, and stilts racing.
Jakarta is set to host a lineup of event as Indonesians mark the nation’s 80th Independence Day, a moment that blends solemn tradition with festive spirit, and one that is expected to draw thousands to the heart of the capital.
(Raidi/Agung)
