One of the Indonesian community's largest annual events in Australia, Festival Indonesia, has been held in Melbourne. How was the event?
Festival Indonesia returned to Argyle Square, Carlton, Melbourne on Sunday, 19 October 2025, bringing its annual outdoor celebration to enthusiastic crowds. This year's festival embraced the theme "Glorious Sriwijaya" and showcased arts and cultural performances from South Sumatra, Jambi, and Bangka Belitung.
Visitors enjoyed diverse activities including dance and band performances, traditional reog shows, food stalls, clothing vendors, fashion shows, and children's workshops.
Festival organisers brought back the popular flashmob tradition, this year setting it to the song Cuk Mak Ilang. The Krida Art Group from Bandung performed the Nusantara Medley Dance, while several music groups, including one featuring Australian students, performed Indonesian songs.
I love all Indonesian songs... like [the works of] Sheila on 7 or Cokelat.Finn Collins, student at theDromana Secondary College
SBS Indonesian spoke with Australian student Finn Collins, who performed Indonesian songs alongside his two friends and teacher. We also interviewed Nadira Alia, a teacher from Krida Nusantara high school, and Cairo, one of the students who performed the Nusantara Medley Dance. Festival organizing committee chair Cely Goeltom explained to SBS Indonesian why they chose "Glorious Sriwijaya" as the theme.
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