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Next: 17 Aug 2027

Indonesian Independence Day

The national day of the former Spice Islands, with tumpeng, a rice cone coloured with turmeric, and kerupuk-eating contests.

Sukarno , accompanied by Mohammad Hatta , declaring the independence of Indonesia at 10:00 am on Friday, 17 August 1945, at Pegangsaan Timur 56 (now Jalan Proklamasi), Jakarta .
Photo: Frans Mendur (also Frans Mendoer) (1913 – 1971), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Spices for Indonesian Independence Day

On 17 August 1945, Indonesia declared independence, and the day is marked with flag-raising, games and community meals. Nasi tumpeng, a cone of turmeric-coloured rice surrounded by side dishes, symbolises thanks and is cut ceremonially. The side dishes include fried chicken in turmeric and lemongrass, sambal, and spiced vegetables. The country is the home of clove, nutmeg and cinnamon, and the festival tables are a reminder of how important spice is in Indonesian cooking, in spice pastes called bumbu.

The spices

TurmericColours the rice cone.NutmegThe tree is native to the Banda Islands.

Also part of it, and being written: Lemongrass (In the chicken.), Sambal (The chilli relish.).

About this page

Written by the EveryMasala desk with AI assistance. Background: "Proclamation of Indonesian Independence" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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