Vendors celebrate Independence Day at market in Surabaya

Vendors celebrate Independence Day at market in Surabaya

The Jakarta Post | Wed, 08/17/2011 5:50 PM


More than 2,000 vendors, mostly of Chinese descent, participated in a ceremony to celebrate the country's 66th Independence Day anniversary, in front of the Atom Baru traditional market in Surabaya, East Java, on Wednesday.

“At least 68 communities of Chinese descent in East Java came to take part in the ceremony,” director of the market’s operator, PT Prosam Plano, Didi Woelyadi Simson, said as quoted by kompas.com.

The Independence Day ceremony, Didi said, was the ninth of its kind, with more participants taking part every year.

“Many vendors were willing to join the ceremony, but we should limit the number of participants due to the limited availability of space,” Didi said.

Also present at the ceremony was the Vice Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Surabaya, Sun Kok Yen.

After the ceremony, the vendors performed in a choir, held a traditional beauty pageant and handed basic commodities to low-income people who live in close proximity to the market.