Jakarta, IO – President Joko Widodo, together with First Lady Iriana, inaugurated the “Istana Berkebaya Palace’ event attended by thousands of participants on the front court of the Merdeka Palace. The event was held to celebrate Indonesia’s 78th year of independence.
In his remarks, Jokowi said kebaya (Indonesia’s traditional tunic-like blouse) is a symbol of the Indonesian nation’s character which is elegant and rich in culture. “Kebaya is graceful, gentle, polite and modest,” he said, per Setkab.go.id, Monday (7/8).
Before the event was held, Iriana, who was seen wearing a red Betawi kebaya delivered a pantun (a poem that comprises four lines of alternating rhymes).
Meanwhile, Jakarta caretaker governor Heru Budi Hartono said the aim of the event was to maintain unity by inviting the public to preserve the traditional culture.
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“In line with the spirit of the 78th Indonesian Independence Day theme ‘Terus Melaju untuk Indonesia Maju,’ this event invites us to love and preserve Indonesian culture and to weave the fabric of unity as a solid foundation for the progress of the nation,” said Heru.
The highlight of the event was a fashion show performed by women’s ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet, ministers’ wives who are members of the Onward Indonesia Cabinet Solidarity Action Organization (OASE KIM), wives of ambassadors and female staff of the Cabinet Secretariat. (bp)