"To celebrate the solar eclipse phenomenon, PT Pos Indonesia issued a 2023 solar eclipse (GMT) postage stamp series that illustrates a Papuan folktale," stated Sri Emelda, Service and Marketing Manager for the company’s Jakarta Philatelic Office, in a press release received on Thursday.
According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), people in Maluku, West Papua, and Papua provinces were able to witness a total solar eclipse at around 1:20 p.m. to 1:54 p.m. Eastern Indonesian Standard Time (WIT).
The regions included Kisar Island and Batu Merah Sub-district in Maluku Province; Roswar Island and Karas Sub-district in West Papua Province; as well as Biak Island in Papua Province.
Meanwhile, people in other regions could only see a partial solar eclipse.
As quoted from the press release, the folklore was titled "Reviving the Sun" that spotlights the struggle of a brave young man named Rangi, who lived in a small village shrouded in darkness at the southern area of the Jayawijaya Mountains.
He strove to cast off the darkness and save his village. Rangi then managed to get two magic javelins.
The young man then threw those javelins to dispel the darkness that covered the sun. The darkness disappeared, and Rangi’s village could then enjoy sunlight.
People can buy the postage stamp series at the Jakarta Philatelic Office, website of filateli.co.id, as well as at post offices across Indonesia.
The 2023 GMT postage stamp series has been issued in the form of First Day Cover (SHP), Souvenir Sheet (SS), and Full Sheet (FS), which cost Rp22 thousand (US$1.48), Rp30 thousand (US$2.02), and Rp 42 thousand (US$2.83), respectively, according to PT Pos Indonesia’s website.
According to a statement published on the website, President of PT Pos Indonesia Faizal R. Djoemadi stated that the postage stamp series also contained a QR Code equipped with information about the total solar eclipse phenomenon.
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Translator: Lintang Prameswari, Uyu Liman
Editor: Anton Santoso
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
