Indonesia Marks 80th Anniversary Of Its Independence With A Grand Ceremony And A Public Festival

Indonesia marked the 80th anniversary of its independence on Sunday with a grand ceremony and public festival in the country’s capital, featuring parades, music, food, air displays and fireworks. Wearing a white traditional outfit and a black traditional cap, President Prabowo Subianto led the Aug. 17 Independence Day anniversary ceremony at the Merdeka Palace, attended by thousands of invited guests, including former Presidents Joko Widodo and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The ceremony’s highlight began with a heritage flag parade and a reading of Indonesia’s original 1945 independence proclamation from the National Monument to the Merdeka Palace.