President Prabowo Subianto served for the first time as Inspector of Ceremony for the commemoration of 80th Anniversary of Indonesia’s Independence at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Sunday, August 17, 2025.

The series of activities began with an arts performance and the Red and White Flag Parade, which began at 7:25 a.m. The Red and White flag and the text of the proclamation arrived in a parade procession at around 8:35 a.m. President Prabowo then arrived at the Presidential Palace aboard a Maung Pindad, accompanied by 45 motorcycle guards and 145 cavalry.

The ceremony began with a report from the Commander of the Ceremony, Colonel Amril Hairuman Tehupelasury, to President Prabowo. Shortly thereafter, 17 cannon blasts, accompanied by a long siren, echoed, marking the beginning of the Commemoration of the Proclamation.

A solemn mood was felt as President Prabowo read the proclamation text of independence, which was was read 80 years earlier by Sukarno, later inaugurated as founding president. Following the reading, the Head of State led all participants in a moment of silence to commemorate the services of the heroes. Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar then led a prayer, creating a solemn atmosphere in the courtyard of the Merdeka Palace.

The ceremony then began at 9:40 a.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB), marked by the first trumpet blast and 17 cannon salutes.

Following this, the Indonesian flag was raised by 76 students from the Flag Raising Troop (Paskibraka), a group of students representing 38 provinces. The flag-raising procession was led by the "Indonesia Berdaulat" (Sovereign Indonesia) Team. Bianca Alessia Christabella Lantang, representing North Sulawesi, was entrusted with carrying the flag. She was accompanied by El Rayyi Mujahid Faqih from East Kalimantan as the flag bearer, Farrel Argantha Irawan from Jakarta as the flag bearer, and Arka Bintang Is'adkauthar from East Java as the Commander of Group 8.

Accompanied by the national anthem "Indonesia Raya," the Red and White flag slowly rose and fluttered majestically in the sky above the Merdeka Palace courtyard, greeted with pride by all in attendance. After the flag hoisting, the ceremony commander's final report to the ceremony inspector marked the end of the sacred procession of the Proclamation of Independence.

The series of activities then continued with a performance of the song "Hari Merdeka" (Independence Day) by Husein Mutahar by Gita Bahana Nusantara (GBN). This year, students from the People's School also performed, adding to the excitement and solemnity of the independence commemoration.

The ceremony included military displays from the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police (Polri), including helicopters and eight F-16 fighter jets performing a flypast over the Presidential Palace.

Several Indonesian singers also performed at the 80th Indonesian Independence Day Celebration Ceremony, including Endah Laras, Gita Bahana Nusantara, Cakra Khan, Isyana Sarasvati, and Rossa.

In this inaugural ceremony, Prabowo instructed the wider public to participate. A total of 16,000 residents had the opportunity to participate in the ceremony commemorating the proclamation and the lowering of the flag.

This historic ceremony not only served as a moment to commemorate the proclamation of independence but also strengthened the spirit of national unity under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto.