The Diplomat
The Embassy of Indonesia gathered last Sunday the Indonesian diaspora and the friends of Indonesia in Spain to celebrate together the Traffic-Free Day of Madrid with a cheerful Red and White Walk.
Dressed in the colors of the Indonesian flag, the participants visited emblematic places of the city, such as Cibeles, Plaza Neptuno, the Museo del Prado and concluded the tour in the Retiro Park.
The walk was part of the celebrations for the 80th anniversary of Indonesia’s independence. At the Retreat, the community enjoyed a gathering full of traditional children’s games and family activities. The Ambassador of Indonesia, Muhammad Najib, opened the day with a few words of encouragement, inviting everyone to maintain the unity and spirit of solidarity of the community in times of global uncertainty.
The festive atmosphere was lived with traditional competitions such as sack races, the challenge of driving a pencil into a bottle or carrying marbles in spoons. These games not only amused young and old, but also brought new generations closer to Indonesian customs, despite the distance from their homeland.
The celebration was also a space to taste Indonesian cuisine. Attendees shared typical dishes such as grilled chicken with rice, padang omelette, sambal, stuffed tofu, nagasari, wajik, pudding and other delicacies. The Garuda Restaurant, currently the only Indonesian restaurant with halal certification in Madrid, joined as a sponsor of the day with some of these delicacies.
In addition, all participants received gift bags from the Centro de Promoción Comercial de Indonesia (ITPC) Barcelona with beloved Indonesian products such as Indomie, Kopiko and canned pineapple. This gesture sought to bring the flavors of Indonesia closer to both the community and the Spanish public.
In its third edition, the Red and White Walk once again brought together some 100 people from the diaspora and friends of Indonesia in Spain. Carmen, a Spanish citizen and former student of the program Darmasiswa 2024, summarized the feeling of many: “These meetings are very special moments, a way to feel Indonesia again and share it with everyone.”
