The Tradition Of Washing The Flag Ahead Of The Republic Of Indonesia's Independence Day Is Still Being Carried Out By The Residents Of The Slopes Of Mount Merbabu In The Midst Of The COVID-19 Pandemic

Residents of the slopes of Mount Merbabu wash the red and white flag. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA – Approaching the 76th Republic of Indonesia Independence Day, residents of the slopes of Mount Merbabu, Beji Hamlet, Sidomulyo Village, Ampel District, Boyolali Regency, Central Java carried out the tradition of washing the Red and White Flag. The activity is carried out jointly every August in order to maintain community nationalism.

"This has become a tradition for the residents of Sidomulyo Village every August to wash the Red and White Flag which is then installed on the road before August 17 to commemorate the 76th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia (RI)," said the Village Head of Sidomulyo, Muh Sawali, in Boyolali, quoting Antara, Sunday 8 August.

However, said Sawali, this time the number of people was not as large as the previous year. This, said Sawali, is that the community complies with government regulations related to health protocols.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this activity was only attended by 30 members of the local village youth organization with strict health protocols.

"Our goal is to maintain the nationalist spirit of our citizens. Because August 17 is a special moment for the Indonesian people," said Sawali.

Still said Sawali, this year his party only held a ceremony to commemorate the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia at the village level. Before the pandemic, flag ceremonies were usually held in their respective hamlets.

"For now, we are only holding a flag ceremony, and even then with health protocols. In the last two years we stopped, there were no 17 activities," he said.