Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin wore traditional Sundanese clothing of West Java while attending the ceremony to commemorate the proclamation of independence of the Republic of Indonesia at the Merdeka Palace here on Tuesday.

Amin wore a blue suit and trousers along with a white batik cloth around his waist. He also accessorized with a bendo head covering and black footwear.

In keeping with the traditional theme followed by Amin, Wury Estu Handayani, the Second Lady, commonly called Wury Ma'ruf Amin, wore a blue embroidered kebaya with traditional Sundanese patterned batik, which was kebat sarong or sinjang bundel.

She wore a veil of the same color as her kebaya and kelom geulis as footwear.

The vice president will also attend the ceremony for lowering the Red and White Flag at the courtyard of the Merdeka Palace on Tuesday afternoon.

On the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, the vice president advised the community to rise together to face the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Let us rise together as a nation to face the COVID-19 pandemic as we welcome our Independence Day, August 17, 1945. Be vigorous and rise up," Amin affirmed.

A series of online and offline ceremonies were held to commemorate the 76th anniversary of Indonesia’s independence. Invitees in the courtyard of the Merdeka Palace were limited to some 17 people in strict adherence to health protocols.

The invitees and public can join the ceremony virtually, with the number of applicants reaching 45 thousand people, while 29 thousand for the commemoration of the seconds towards the proclamation of independence, and 16 thousand for the Red and White Flag lowering ceremony.

Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) chose to wear a traditional outfit from Lampung Province while serving as inspector at the proclamation ceremony.

Jokowi wore a white long-sleeved shirt and trousers as well as a unique red Lampung sarong woven with gold thread around his waist. He also wore a red headband with a yellow pattern.

The president also wore a white mask in keeping with the health protocols.

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Translator: Fransiska N, Kenzu T
Editor: Sri Haryati
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