The Kingdom Of Majapahit, Sriwijaya To Mataram Decorate The Decorations Of The Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, To Welcome The 77th Indonesian Independence Day

Illustration of a flag-raising exercise at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta in 2020. (BPMI Setpres-Rusman)

JAKARTA - The Presidential Secretariat (Setpres) revealed that the commemoration of the 77th anniversary of Indonesian independence carried the concept of the history of the kingdom until the founding of the Indonesian nation. The concept was inscribed in the decorations in the Merdeka Palace area, Jakarta

"The concept is that we explore the histories of the Indonesian nation. We explore the glory of Majapahit, Sriwijaya, and Mataram, we make one, including exploring the cultures that existed in the past," said Head of the Presidential Secretariat (Kasetpres) Heru Budi Hartono when met at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Sunday, August 14.

Heru explained that the glory of the kingdoms in Indonesia in the past became the inspiration for the concept and decoration for the Commemoration of the Seconds of the Proclamation to Commemorate the 77th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia on August 17, 2022.

In contrast to the last two years, the Presidential Secretariat will hold a series of Commemoration Ceremonies for the Seconds of the Proclamation and the Lowering of the Red and White Flag Ceremony with conditions as before COVID-19.

One of them, namely members of the Pusaka Flag-Raising Troop (Paskibraka) will be deployed in full according to the 17-8-45 formation in the two ceremonial sessions.

Then, the Palace also re-organized the procession of Sang Saka Merah Putih and the Proclamation Manuscript from the National Monument to the Merdeka Palace.

"The difference is that when the carnival is the Sang Saka Merah Putih flag with the Proclamation (text) we put it down, then we take it down from the main pulpit. Last year, we went from the side to the main pulpit," Heru said, according to Antara.

The Red and White Heritage Flag will not be flown later, as well as the Proclamation Manuscript which is stored in a special box so that the two historical objects are not allowed to be touched.

Meanwhile, the traditional clothes that President Joko Widodo will wear when he becomes the Ceremonial Inspector are still being selected. "They are being selected. Regional candidates don't know yet, there are still three regions," said Heru.