Jakarta (ANTARA) - State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi clarified that residents are not required to wear traditional attire to attend ceremonies marking Indonesia's 80th Independence Day at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on August 17.

"We do not set a specific dress code for the general public, as what matters most is the spirit of the occasion," he told the media after reviewing a rehearsal for the ceremonies in the palace courtyard on Tuesday.

The minister stressed that wearing traditional clothing is only expected of guests formally invited by the government to attend the celebrations.

For residents who request and receive tickets, he suggested wearing red-and-white-themed outfits to help create a more festive atmosphere for the Independence Day celebrations.

Furthermore, he noted that the palace had prepared to host 16 thousand participants in total, with eight thousand for the morning flag-raising ceremony and another eight thousand for the afternoon flag-lowering ceremony.

However, he also acknowledged that public enthusiasm may well exceed the available quota.

"We would like to apologize for not being able to accommodate everyone due to limited space," he stated.

The minister remarked that the Independence Day commemoration would feature a range of activities and that the event committee welcomes suggestions to further enliven the historic day.

Celebrations of the eight-decade milestone will begin with a morning ceremony reenacting the proclamation of Indonesia's independence, followed by an afternoon public feast offering food and beverages in the palace’s central courtyard.

A similar full-day celebration will also take place at the National Monument (Monas) area, culminating with a fireworks display in the evening.

In addition, various state institutions will participate in a night parade, featuring vehicles decorated with information about their respective programs.

Related news: Palace I-Day ceremony: 80% of invites reserved for public

Related news: Prabowo urges modest 80th Independence Day, focus on public service

Translator: Mentari D, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Primayanti
Copyright © ANTARA 2025