Badung Bali Residents Hold 79th Indonesian Independence Day Ceremony in the Middle of Rice Fields

Residents of Badung, Bali, held an Indonesian Independence Day ceremony in the middle of a rice field. (MI)

The 79th Anniversary of Indonesian Independence Day was celebrated in an interesting and unique way by hundreds of residents from Banjar Blungbang, Penarungan Village, Badung Regency, Bali, Saturday (17/8/2024). It was called unique and interesting because the Indonesian Independence Day ceremony was held in the middle of a rice field without damaging the rice plants.

All the participants of the ceremony were in the middle of the green rice fields. The leader of the ceremony and the red and white flag were also in the middle of the rice fields. Other ceremony officials were also in the rice fields owned by several local residents.

From the preparation until the ceremony took place in the middle of the rice field, not a single stalk of rice was stepped on or destroyed. The movements of the participants and the ceremony officials were carried out in such a way as not to damage the rice and the atmosphere remained solemn.

The Head of the Committee, Wayan Suyasa, who is also the Deputy Regent of Badung Regency, said that the initiative came from the young men and women of Penarungan Village. The flag ceremony in the middle of the rice fields is very contextual with the philosophy of the existence of the local community, all of whom are farmers.

“There is no country in the world whose life does not depend on agriculture. The same thing also applies in Indonesia. If this country wants to be happy, then make its farmers happy first. Meanwhile, on the other hand, people have become farmers,” said Wayan.

Therefore, the government tries to involve farmers in various important occasions.

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“Make the farmers happy first before inviting people to become farmers. So far, farmers have only been used as political sales during campaigns. That’s what needs to change,” he said.

The celebration in the middle of the rice fields also became a spirit for young people to become farmers. In Badung Regency, the source of PAD is indeed from the tourism sector. But the agricultural sector remains number one because that is where the culture and tradition are well preserved.

“I hope that our youth are happy to be farmers and eventually they are proud to be farmers,” he said. (Z-11)