Yogyakartans break their fast with nasi bungkus (wrapped rice) that were distributed during the Pancasila Day event at Alun-alun Utara (North Square) on Thursday (1/6/2017). Nasi bungkus is a symbol of togetherness and fosters a spirit of mutual cooperation. Through the so-called Nasi Bungkus Movement, Yogyakartans engaged in the unifying spirit of Pancasila as manifested in everyday life.
The commemoration of Pancasila Day at the Yogyakarta Royal Palace on Thursday afternoon (1/6) did not only involve slogans of nationalism and songs of struggle: The values of Pancasila were also brought to life through the actions of those who voluntarily passed out food and drink for people to break their fast. This was a typical form of Yogyakarta’s gotong royong (mutual cooperation), which has been seen throughout the region’s history.
From 1:00 p.m., or two hours before the Pancasila Day commemorative event began, a number of cars started to make their way into the yard of the Keraton Yogyakarta performance hall. Several cardboard boxes and large plastic bags were carried out from the cars.
A number of on-duty security officers were handed packages containing nasi bungkus (wrapped rice) and mineral water, who then placed them on the tables that had been set up in the yard. Occasionally, among the line of cars coming in, a few motorbike drivers were seen delivering large packages containing food and drink.
The food and drink were given voluntarily by a number of parties to support the commemoration of Pancasila Day, an event held by the Pancasila People’s Movement of the Yogyakarta Special Administrative Region (Gerak Pancasila DIY). Gerak Pancasila DIY consists of public members of society such as academicians, artists and activists. The event was attended by thousands of people fromall walks of life.
A number of officials and community leaders also attended the event, including Yogyakarta Governor and Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and his wife Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas, Yogyakarta Deputy Governor Paku Alam X, also with his wife, Yogyakarta Police Chief Gen. Ahmad Dofiri and Yogyakarta Regional Legislative Council Chairman Yoeke Indra Agung.
“The commemoration of Pancasila Day was organized through gotong royong because we do not have a special budget [for it]. As for the food passed out for breaking the fast, we were helped by a number of parties that donated nasi bungkus, takjil (breaking-of-the-fast snacks) and mineral water,” said Gerak Pancasila DIY head Widihasto Wasana Putra.
Symbol
Widihasto said that other than for the purpose of breaking the fast, nasi bungkus is also a symbol of cooperation for the people of Yogyakarta. During the natural disasters that struck Yogyakarta, such as the 2006 earthquake and the Mount Merapi eruption of 2010, Yogyakartans who were not affected directly by the disasters initiated a “nasi bungkus movement”. Without any official direction, they came out in droves to donate nasi bungkus to disaster victims.
This so-called Nasi Bungkus Movement was seen previously on May 20, 1998, when Yogyakartan residents spontaneously donated nasi bungkus to demonstrators supporting the Reformation Movement at the North Square of Yogyakarta Palace. At the time, around one million people had gathered at the rally, which was also attended by Sultan Hamengku Buwono X.
“Nasi bungkus as a symbol of gotong royong is what we are trying to revive at this Pancasila Day commemoration. The Nasi Bungkus Movement is proof of the implementation of Pancasila values,” Widihasto said. He added that about 18,000packages of wrapped rice were gathered for the event.
Yogyakartan businessman Robby Kusumaharta said that a number of businessmen in the “City of Students” took part in donating nasi bungkus when they learned of the large-scale Pancasila Day commemorative event to be held at Yogyakarta Palace. The wrapped rice donation occurredspontaneously, without any coordination by an entrepreneurs association.
Robby said the businessmen were moved to give because the Nasi Bungkus Movement had already become a Yogyakarta tradition.
Community activist Totok Sudarwoto, who attended the event, witnessed the same spirit and sincerity as when Yogyakartans demonstrated on the issue of Yogyakarta’s special status. “Back then, what moved the people was the special status of Yogya; now the people of Yogya are united and eager to defend Pancasila,” he said.
Other than businessmen, wrapped rice donations also came from community leaders, religious institutions, social organizations and even villagers.
Egalitarian
The Pancasila Day commemoration at Yogyakarta Palace had a unique concept and design that saw its entire audience, including the Sultan, sitting on the floor of the performance hall. The organizer deliberately designed the event this way to represent egalitarianism between the people and their leader.
“The desired message is to strengthen the egalitarian relationship between leaders and their people,” Widihasto said.
The commemoration proceeded in a simple manner, opened by songs of struggle sung by aubade, or a 600-strong student choir involving several senior high schools in Yogyakarta, followed by a recitation of Pancasila and the preamble of the 1945 Constitution. The highlight of the event was a speech by Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, before the event closed with a declaration delivered by Gerak Pancasila DIY.
In his speech, the Sultan said that it was not enough for Pancasila to be shouted out as a pledge or a slogan, but that it must be put into action in the daily lives of the people. Pancasila must be the soul of the nation and that which enforced the spirit of nationalism.
“So, it is not enough for us to merely yell out the slogan ‘Pancasila is [the final word]’ and ‘NKRI (the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia) is set’,” he said.
