Independence Day Games

Today is Indonesian 63rd Independence Day. Usually, Indonesian people celebrate it with flag ceremony. The ceremony takes place at schools, goverment offices, and at Istana Merdeka (Presidential House). Besides that, we also celebrate it by playing games or organizing competitions.

We have to raise our national flag at each house at least fro 16th to 18th. In our neighborhood, usually we put red and white decorations. 

 Several games and competitions that usually played are:

(the pictures are taken from the activities at my school and neigborhood)

LOMBA TUMPENG (TUMPENG MAKING COMPETITION)

Tumpeng is rice that shaped like a cone and decorated with vegetables and other dishes, such as fried chicken, fried tofu and tempe, perkedel (potato cake), urap (steamed vegetables with grated young coconut).

This competition is usually participated by groups of mothers. They share who will cook what for accompanion of the "tumpeng". Then, they will decorate it together.

PANJAT PINANG (PALM CLIMBING)

Two groups of four persons climb a palm trunk. At the top of the trunk hanged the prizes; cloths, money, electronic appliances, or others. The trunk is covered by oil to make it difficult to climb and slippery. To make it even more difficult, the trunk, the competitors, and the dirt are showered by water! Each group has to grab the prizes. Sometimes, they share to their opponent or collaborate, because it is difficult. The game takes around 1.5 hours or can be more.     

LOMBA MAKAN KERUPUK  (CRACKERS EATING COMPETITION)

This competition is usually for young children.

The participants have to eat up the crackers that hanged with strings. To make it more difficult, if the participants are older, by swaying the string so the crackers will be difficult to bite. Or, by asking them to rotate themselves, so they get dizzy or loose orientation. The winner is the one who can eat up the cracker first or more than others. 

BALAP KARUNG (SACK RACING)

The participants have to put on sacks (usually old rice sack) to cover their legs. Then, they have to jump like kangaroos to the finish line. The race can be played by groups like an estafet. It can be played by pairs, by putting one leg inside the sack and the other outside. So, they have to walk or run in harmony. 

BALAP KELERENG (MARBLE RACING)

The participants have to hold spoons, with marbles on them, with their teeth and lips.

 They have to walk fast (or run if they can) to the finish line, but they are not allowed to hold the spoons or the marbles and drop the marbles.

SEPAK BOLA SARUNG (SOCCER WITH SARONG)

This is like ordinary soccer or football, unless the players wear sarong. So, they cannot run or kick the ball easily. To make it more fun, the game is played by adult men and they have to wear "daster" (batik women long night gown).

TARIK TAMBANG (TUG OF WAR)

You all know this game, right? This game can be played by all ages in groups. The participants have to pull the rope to their side. The winner is the group who can pull their opponents to their side.

LOMBA BAKIAK (BAKIAK RACING)

Bakiak is a traditional wooden sandals with rubber straps.

The race is played by groups of 2 or 3 persons. They have to wear a pair of bakiak with 2 or 3 straps (depends on how many persons in each group) and walk to the finish line. They have to collaborate to walk in harmony if they don't want to fall down. [unfortunatey, this time I don't have the photo]

LOMBA SEPEDA HIAS (BICYCLE DECORATION COMPETITION)

This competition is usually participated by young children. Their bicycle have to be decorated creatively. Usually, the parents that decorate it. Unfortunately, in order to win the competition, some parents have their children's bicycles decorated by professional decorators. [unfortunatey, this time I don't have the photo]

CRAZY WHEEL

This is not a traditional game actually, and not common either.

The game is played at my school. This is a game that teach the players to collaborate. It can played by young children and adults. The players have to walk together inside the wheel (made of plastic mat) to the finish line. The wheel can be moved by stepping forward the the sheet. The key is the players have to walk at the same pace and in harmony. Nobody should walk slower or faster than others. Collaboration is extremely required.