Public Shows Enthusiasm Ahead of Independence Day Celebration
A number of people enthusiastically visited the Krida Bhakti Building at the Ministry of State Secretariat in Jakarta on Saturday (08/15), to collect invitations to attend the commemoration ceremony of the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, which will be held at the Presidential Palace on August 17, 2026.
For some of them, obtaining an invitation was no easy task. They had to compete in an online “war” for invitations, with some only managing to secure additional slots after trying for several days.
Alin, a resident of Serang, Banten, who successfully obtained an invitation, said she only managed to get one on the second day after taking part in the online “war.” She also expressed her enthusiasm about attending the ceremony, which will be led by President Prabowo Subianto as the inspector of the ceremony. She said she had already prepared the outfit she would wear for the occasion.
Ilham, an online motorcycle taxi driver from Lampung who lives in Cipondoh, Tangerang, also shared his experience of trying to secure an invitation. He said that he finally secured the additional slots after making various unsuccessful attempts for five days.
Ilham said that he looked forward to witness the fighter jet air show in the ceremony. For him, watching the show in person will offer a different experience from seeing it on television.
Meanwhile, Bagas Prasetyo from Sukabumi, who managed to obtain an invitation on his first attempt, said that the process of collecting the invitation was not as difficult as he had imagined. The queue moved relatively quickly, despite having previously heard many reports about long lines.
These stories show that, for some members of the public, the journey toward attending the 81st Anniversary of Indonesia’s Independence ceremony began long before they arrived at the Presidential Palace. Each made their own efforts to secure an invitation.
Ultimately, all of their efforts were driven by one desire: to become part of a historic moment that they had previously experienced only through their television screens. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (RAS/MMB)
