Ashraf Siddiqui
Doha
The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Doha commemorated the 79th Independence Day with a vibrant celebration that brought together embassy officials and more than 200 members of the Indonesian community, all dressed in traditional attire despite the intense summer heat.
Indonesian Ambassador to Qatar HE Ridwan Hassan led the event donning a distinguished outfit from Palembang, South Sumatra.
The celebration began with a flag-raising ceremony at the embassy at 6.30am on Saturday morning. Key roles, including the Proclamation Reader, Prayer Leader, and the Flag Hoisting Team, were performed by members of the Indonesian community.
Following the flag-raising, the festivities continued with a social gathering that featured the ceremonial cutting of a tumpeng, a traditional Indonesian rice dish. Ambassador HE Hassan distributed the first servings to the guests, emphasising the importance of unity and encouraging the community to contribute to Indonesia’s progress in honour of the vision set forth by the country’s founding fathers.
The Independence Day celebrations had kicked off in July 2024 with a series of sports and activities competitions for Indonesians of all ages in Qatar. The festivities are set to continue until September, aiming to foster a renewed sense of unity and camaraderie within the Indonesian diaspora in Qatar.