Balinese Life
Shower of Gratitude to Great Heroes

Independence Day celebration is coming soon. This year, Indonesia has entered the sixtieth year of its freedom from the chain of colonialism and underdevelopment. Abundant materials have been sacrificed and millions brave heroes have died to release this beloved fatherland. Due to their bitter struggle, their new generations now can inhale the freshness of independence air. Thanks to great heroes!

By the celebration day, schoolchildren are usually occupied in making varied preparations. Some may practice to march along some streets or town squares and decorates their bicycle for the parade en masse. When you happen to pass through some points downtown Denpasar or other towns around Bali, you may encounter them marching on the street with their teacher. Drops of sweat on the face and that moistens their shirt does not make them surrender. They keep on marching under the heat of the sun. Through the history lesson in class, children know the struggle of their predecessors. And, it’s time for them now to convey honor, appreciation and continue their spirit to release this nation from underdevelopment like in the form of illiteracy, poverty and so forth.
Bali that is at all times connoted to paradise island that rich in culture, certainly will not let this moment pass. A variety of art performance is staged dedicated to great heroes and veterans on the one hand and entertain the entire community on this happy celebration on the other hand. Schoolchildren and youth club are involved in this happening. Each presents their art creativity. Villages or sub district usually celebrate this momentous occasion on their own way. However, the national celebration at this time is not so dazzling as that of Hindu holidays.
To mark off with this yearly celebration, villages throughout Bali start to carry out clean-up service by a mutual assistance or gotong royong cheerfully. Many village organizations take part in it, starting from customary village, and youth club up to household mothers that belong to PKK or women empowerment group. Togetherness in such activity is really felt and indeed becomes distinctive features of rural life in Bali. Other than traditional arts, they also hold some fun-filled sport competition on public squares. They consist of tiring tug of war, attractive areca climbing and cracker eating for children category. Amongst them, areca climbing probably is the most enthralling attraction. Many tempting prizes are put on the top of slippery areca log. The hanging t-shirt, towel, household tools or even pushbike and the like up there, make many people are willing to struggle for that.
Coinciding with this nationwide festivity, Bali province also celebrates its anniversary on 14 August. For years, it has performed a development fair at Padanggalak, Sanur in east Denpasar. All government offices and state-owned companies involve in this activity. Here, people can get in touch with those offices to get information about their service, watch traditional art performance or buy some handicraft products. In short, civil servants can give closer look, share idea and receive inputs on the service directly from general public.(BTN/029)