Indonesian Flag

Every Indonesian celebrated independence day every August 17th, Indonesian flag is red and white are always raised in various places. We could say that August is the month of red and white, because various places in Indonesia were decorated with red and white. The flag of the Republic Indonesia, who briefly called the flag State, is the Sang Saka Merah Putih, Sang Merah Putih, or sometimes called the Dwiwarna (two colors). The State flag or the Red and White is rectangular with a width two-thirds of the length. and the top is red and white in the bottom that both halves of the same size.

Breeding to red and white roots can be traced origins of Austronesian people’s mythology about Mother Earth and Father Sky; both are symbolized by the color red (ground) and white (the sky). Because of this, the red and white colors often appear in the emblems of the Austronesian - from Tahiti, Indonesia, to Madagascar. Red and white then used to symbolize the duality of nature that each pair.

The red color white has long been used in Indonesia, at the start of the kingdom in the ancient times. In Java, the use of red and white flag can be found in Pararaton and Jayakatwang's army of bangles waving white and red flag while attacking Singosari. This means that before the Majapahit period was red and white colors have been used as a royal banner, probably since the kingdom of Kediri.

Actually, not only the kingdom of Majapahit who wears red and white flag as a symbol of greatness. Before Majapahit, Kediri kingdom has been wearing red and white pennants. In addition, the battle flag from Batak Singamangaraja IX was wearing a red and white as the color of its flag, twin swords display white color with bright red and white base. The red and white flag of war are Singamangaraja XII. Two twin swords symbolize Piso Gaja densely packed, heritage kings Singamangaraja I to Singamangaraja XII.

On the Sumatra island, Aceh fighters have used the flag of war in the form of banners in red and white, on the back applied to sword drawing, moon, sun, and stars and some verses of the Al-Quran. At the time of the Bugis kingdom of Bone, South Sulawesi before White Palakka, the flag was a symbol of power and greatness of the kingdom of Bone. Bone flag was known as Woromporang. A Panji Badung kingdom centered in Puri Pamecutan also contains red and white, their banner in red, white, and black may also be derived from the color of Majapahit. Pangeran Diponegoro wears the banner of red and white in the struggle against the Dutch during the Java War (1825-1830).

Red-white color and then reused by the students and nationalists in the early 20th century as an expression of nationalism against the Netherlands. The flag is used for the first time in Java in 1928. Under colonial rule, the flag was banned from use. These flags serve as the official national flag of Indonesia on August 17th, 1945, when independence was declared and officially used since then.

Flag of Indonesia has a philosophical meaning. Red means courage, white means purity. Red symbolizes the human body, while white symbolizes the human soul. Both complement each other and enhance the human body and soul to build Indonesia.

State flags are raised at the Proclamation of Indonesian independence on 17 August 1945 in Pegangsaan Timur No. 56 Jakarta called the flag Sang Saka Merah Putih. The flag Sang Saka Merah Putih stored and maintained at the National Monument in Jakarta. Every August 17th, the flag was brought in the flag ceremony.

Indonesian flag was also raised everywhere, every August 17th in celebration of Indonesia's independence day. Many ways the Indonesian people do in this day to raise the flag. In East Java, rock climbing with military raised the flag in the cliffs of Mount Sepikul as high as 350 meters along with local residents and school children. This flag is very large with a length of 20 meters, so it called giant flag.

Giant flag can also raise at the peak of Ledok Ombo, Sumber, Probolinggo, East Java. This place is called as the top B-29, and is a place that used to see the panoramic beauty of Mount Bromo clearly. The red and white flag measuring 20 x 15 meters was made after conducting ceremonies and prayers. Not an easy to raised a giant flag at the top which has an altitude of 2,900 meters above sea level. The mountain climbers have to be extra careful because the route is quite dangerous.

TNI or Indonesian Army raised the giant Red and White flag (20 × 25 meters) in Halimon Mount, Aceh. This Mountain is a location of Aceh community leaders whose declare Aceh Merdeka on December 4th, 1976 and waged war to the Government of Indonesia for 30 years later. After the peace, Aceh has returned to be part of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.

The giant red and white flag raises in the peak of Mount Ciremai, Kuningan, West Java. Ciremai mountain is the highest volcano in West Java. This flag has 500 meters long with a width of 80 meters was raised by a group of nature lovers, supported by Caldera National Park Authority and Partners business Ciremai Mountain, Kuningan District. The flag was hoisted lengthwise in the handrails of the climbers on the south rim of the crater atop Mount Ciremai. This flag is the biggest the flag ever raised in Indonesia. This flag was divided into 8 pieces, of which 4 pieces of a length of 75 meters each, and four other pieces of a length of 50 meters each.

A unique and interesting ways to raise the giant flag is also done by Special Forces, where they perform the plunge with a giant flag (22.25 x 32.25 meters). This mission was held in the Education Center of the Special Forces (Pusdikpasus) Batujajar, West Java. Flag weighing more than 80 kg is transported by plane CASA belonging Puspenerbad of Lanud Suparlan located in the area Pusdikpasus.

The action begins with attraction Canopy Relative Work (CRW) by five members of Special Forces. After five do the breakaway, then a member of Kopassus dove carrying a huge flag. At a height of 700 feet (213 meters). This action also received an award from MURI record as the action jumps with the biggest flag.

Besides in the sky, the giant flag was also raised under the sea. The raising of the flag the size of 22.5 x 15 meters at a depth of 25 meters in the waters of Gili Air, Lombok, also entered the Indonesian Record Museum (MURI). The raising is done by 40 people consisting of professional divers, members of the Navy and members of the scout.