Indonesian Embassy in Islamabad Launches Festive 80th Independence Day Celebrations

ISLAMABAD — The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Islamabad has officially commenced celebrations for Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day, bringing together nationals, expatriates, and friends of Indonesia for a day filled with cultural pride, sports, and traditional cuisine. The national day will be marked on August 17.

The event was led by H.E. Chandra Warsenanto Sukotjo, Ambassador-designate of Indonesia to Pakistan, accompanied by his spouse Mme Tamara Y. Sukotjo, embassy staff, students, professionals, UN/IO officials, pilots, and Indonesian spouses married to Pakistanis or other foreign nationals.

Festivities began with an energetic morning workout session, followed by a spirited Zumba routine. Participants dressed in red and white — the colors of the Indonesian flag — added a vibrant patriotic touch to the gathering.

“We must be proud to be Indonesians. Today is about unity, joy, and honoring our traditions,” Ambassador Sukotjo said, inviting the community to join the official flag-hoisting ceremony on August 17.

The celebrations featured an exciting lineup of sports and traditional games, including badminton, table tennis, volleyball, futsal, tug of war (tarik tambang), sack race (balap karung), and the tomato dance (joget tomat), ensuring an atmosphere of fun and nostalgia.

A major highlight was the food stalls run by Indonesian students, offering authentic dishes such as nasi ayam bakar (rice with BBQ chicken), nasi pecel (rice with vegetables), bila ayam, risol mayonnaise, bakwan (Indonesian fritters), and desserts including pisang hijau and es cincau.

“This event makes us feel at home, keeping us connected to our roots,” said Ms. Nurul, a UN staff member.

During the festivities, Ambassador Sukotjo welcomed Mr. Asrobudi, Advisor of IBEX Indonesia, who introduced a team of six Indonesian mountain climbers embarking on an expedition to Trango Towers in Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan. This symbolic journey celebrates 75 years of Indonesia–Pakistan diplomatic relations, promoting friendship and cultural exchange.

The all-day celebration concluded with the distribution of door prizes, leaving participants in high spirits ahead of the Independence Day on August 17.

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