Jakarta’s 493rd Anniversary Celebrations Go Digital Amid Coronavirus Spread

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Amid the coronavirus crisis, there are no spectacular outdoor festivals throughout the Indonesian capital during the commemoration of Jakarta’s 493rd anniversary on Monday, June 22. All events will be going online for the first time.

The big annual events such as the Jakarta Fair and the Jakarta Night Festival have been scrapped this year as part of the efforts to contain the coronavirus from spreading. Jakarta is Indonesia's hardest-hit city since the government confirmed the first two cases of Covid-19 in Depok on the outskirts of the capital in March.

Under the theme of “Jakarta Resilience" for this year’s celebrations, the Jakarta administration is organizing a series of virtual programs that symbolizes the city’s joie de vivre while fighting the coronavirus.

The activities include virtual tours to various tourist destinations such as the zoo, museums and theme park, Jakarta Great Online Sale, and virtual discussions between Governor Anies Baswedan and officials as well as the community.

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“The selected logo of this year’s anniversary symbolizes the resilience of Jakarta, the harmonious collaborations between the local administration and the community, the spirit of never giving up, and also to welcome Jakarta that is progressing, resilience, prosperous and free from the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Jakarta Administration Secretary Saefullah.

The story behind June 22

Historian Andi Achdian said the annual celebration observed every June 22 was initiated by Sudiro who served as Jakarta mayor from 1953 to 1960.

Sudiro then formed a team to discuss the celebration of Jakarta’s anniversary. The team agreed to choose the day when the Sultanate of Demak conquered the Sunda Kelapa town from Portuguese occupation. Sunda Kelapa was seized by the Sultanate of Demak under the leadership of its Commander Fatahillah on June 22, 1527.

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"The question now is why June 22? I think it is practical. According to [Hussein] Jayadiningrat, the author of Banten, Fatahillah seized Sunda Kelapa on 12 Rabiulawal of the Islamic calendar corresponding to June 22, 1527,” Andi told Kompas.com on Sunday, June 21.

The then-mayor agreed on the selected date because he wanted to eliminate the concept of colonialism in Jakarta.

(Writer : Ryana Aryadita Umasugi | Editor : Jessi Carina)

Sources: https://megapolitan.kompas.com/read/2020/06/22/07354771/rangkaian-acara-virtual-hut-ke-493-dki-jakarta-zoom-meeting-bareng-anies.

https://megapolitan.kompas.com/read/2020/06/22/06323111/hut-ke-493-dki-begini-kisah-penetapan-22-juni-sebagai-ulang-tahun-jakarta.