79th Anniversary of Indonesian Independence Held in Unfinished Nusantara Capital

Indonesia celebrated its 79th year of independence on Saturday with a historic ceremony in the ambitious future capital city of the nation, Nusantara. This year's celebration was held amidst ongoing construction—both briskly moving on and showing struggles related to the relocation of the capital from Jakarta.

The hundreds of officials and invited guests who attended the ceremony in the heart of Nusantara were surrounded by a new Presidential Palace in the shape of Garuda, the mythical eagle-winged protector, a testimonial to a forward-looking Indonesia. Cranes and construction equipment still dotted the landscape, a reminder that Nusantara remains a city under construction.

Present at the ceremony was President Joko Widodo and his Cabinet, and this event had been due to coincide with the official inauguration of Nusantara as the country's new capital. The celebration was toned down after huge construction delays hit the project, which has dimmed hopes of full relocation anytime soon.

The choice of Nusantara for holding the Independence Day ceremony signals the seriousness of the Indonesian government on the ambitious project to lighten Jakarta's pressures, which have been grappling with overpopulation and environmental problems, including subsidence.

As Nusantara rises from the ground, Indonesia's Independence Day in its future capital city displays progress and serves as a reminder of the work required to complete this colossal project.