Thousands of kilometres from Jakarta, the Indonesian Independence Day in Budapest is bringing the atmosphere of the archipelago to Hungary, as the Indonesian Embassy and the local Indonesian community mark the country’s 81st anniversary of independence with sport, traditional games, cultural dress and food.
Indonesia celebrates its Independence Day every year on 17 August, commemorating the proclamation of independence in 1945. For Indonesians living abroad, however, the occasion is also an opportunity to recreate some of the traditions associated with the annual 17 Agustusan celebrations at home.
This year, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Budapest has organised a series of events designed to involve Indonesians living across Hungary while also showcasing the country’s cultural diversity.
Indonesian Independence Day in Budapest starts with community competitions
The celebrations began well before the national holiday itself.
On 18 July, members of the Indonesian community gathered at the Hodos Tamás Badminton Hall in Budapest for friendly badminton and table tennis matches organised by the embassy.
Sport and traditional games are an important part of Indonesia’s Independence Day festivities. Across Indonesia, neighbourhoods and communities frequently organise light-hearted competitions in the weeks around 17 August.
Some of the most iconic activities are difficult to reproduce in Hungary. One example is panjat pinang, a traditional competition in which teams attempt to climb a tall, greased pole to reach prizes placed at the top.
The Budapest celebrations therefore adapt the tradition to their surroundings.
Further competitions are planned for 25 August, including darts, chess, ball juggling, photography and gaple, a domino game widely played in Indonesia.
Indonesian Ambassador to Hungary Penny D. Herasati has also taken an active role in the festivities, joining community members in the competitions. Her participation is intended to underline the informal, communal character of the celebration, bringing embassy staff, Indonesian citizens and members of the diaspora together.
Batik, traditional dress and Indonesia’s extraordinary diversity
The central event will take place on 17 August at the Indonesian Embassy in Budapest, where members of the community will gather for the official flag-hoisting ceremony.
Young Indonesians living in Hungary were invited to volunteer for the Paskibra, or flag-hoisting team. Following a selection process, three participants were chosen for the main team, with three additional reserve members.
The ceremony will also offer a glimpse of the remarkable cultural diversity found across Indonesia.
Officials are expected to wear traditional clothing representing different regions of the country, while guests have also been encouraged to attend in regional dress or batik.
For Hungarian and other European readers, batik is perhaps one of Indonesia’s most recognisable cultural traditions. The textile-making technique uses wax-resistant dyeing to create intricate patterns, with individual designs often associated with particular regions, traditions or occasions.
Traditional costumes from different parts of the archipelago can vary even more dramatically, reflecting Indonesia’s vast geography and its hundreds of ethnic and linguistic communities.
Tumpeng brings the taste of home to Hungary
Food will play an equally important role in the Indonesian Independence Day in Budapest.
After the flag ceremony, participants will take part in a traditional tumpengan, centred on nasi tumpeng: yellow rice served in a distinctive cone shape and surrounded by a selection of side dishes.
The Budapest menu is expected to include chicken, beef, tofu, tempeh, fried potatoes and vegetables.
Tumpeng is traditionally served at important celebrations and communal occasions in Indonesia. For Indonesians living thousands of kilometres from home, sharing the dish has an additional emotional meaning: familiar flavours can become a tangible connection to family, childhood and national traditions.
Celebrations will continue after 17 August
The festivities will not end with the national holiday.
On 22 August, the Indonesian community in Hungary is due to organise a Pesta Rakyat, or People’s Festival, featuring traditional dance and musical performances. The programme is being prepared by members of the community themselves, following the idea of an event “from the community, by the community and for the community”.
The series of events shows that Indonesia’s national day abroad is about more than formal diplomacy. For Indonesians in Hungary, it is also a way to maintain cultural traditions, strengthen community ties and introduce a small part of one of the world’s largest and most diverse archipelagic nations to Budapest.
On 17 August, that cultural celebration will take on its more solemn meaning, as Indonesians in Hungary join millions at home in marking 81 years since the proclamation of their country’s independence.
If you missed it: Indonesia’s Kartini and Hungary’s Blanka Teleki: how women shaped nations
