The idea came from the President, so government officials and ministers can (contribute to) preserve (the culture) while celebrating the national dayJakarta (ANTARA) - The idea for a traditional dress code for the 77th Independence Day ceremony at Merdeka Palace came from President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who suggested it to attendees, according to the Presidential Secretariat.
"The idea came from the President, so government officials and ministers can (contribute to) preserve (the culture) while celebrating the national day," Presidential Secretariat head Heru Budi Hartono informed at the Presidential Palace complex here on Wednesday.
The traditional dress code was also expected to promote and propagate Indonesian arts, culture, and history to the global community, he added.
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"(Traditional attire) must be preserved, and no other country can copy what we have. (It is also our way to exhibit that) Indonesia has traditional attires that must be promoted,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Special Staff to the President, Billy Mambrasar, who attended the ceremony in Papuan traditional attire, said that the President had instructed the special staff to wear traditional gear from their respective regions at the ceremony.
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For this year's independence commemoration ceremony, President Widodo was dressed in a Dolomani suit, which comprised a long red robe and pants with white ornaments. The suit is traditionally worn by the Buton people from Southeast Sulawesi province.
Beneath the red robe, the President wore an ivory white sequinned shirt that matched the robe’s ornaments, a black and white striped sarung, and a round headgear.
Meanwhile, First Lady Iriana also wore a blue Buton outfit for women with gold ornaments. She paired it with a blue-gold scarf and a handkerchief of the same color. She also wore a large golden crown.
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Translator: Rangga Pandu AJ, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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