Khofifah Indar Parawansa invites children to Grahadi celebration

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa has invited a group of children to participate in a special independence day celebration at the Gedung Negara Grahadi in Surabaya. The invitation follows viral footage and photos from the 81st Indonesian Independence Day ceremony on August 17, 2026, showing children standing outside the building's perimeter to spontaneously salute the Red and White flag.

Khofifah expressed that she was moved by the children's spontaneous displays of patriotism despite being unable to enter the venue due to capacity limits. To honor their actions, she organized an event titled ‘Anak Hebat Indonesia Kuat’ (Great Children, Strong Indonesia) on August 18, 2026.

The gathering included the children captured in the footage, along with orphans, patients from Omah Terapi, and other local youth groups, creating an inclusive space to foster national pride from an early age.