KLUNGKUNG, Bali — Red-and-white Indonesian flags were raised beneath the waters of Nusa Lembongan and along the cliffs of Kelingking Beach in Nusa Penida on Sunday, as local police marked Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day with a celebration that brought the national colours into some of Bali’s most recognisable landscapes.

The initiative, organised by Nusa Penida Police, involved police officers, healthcare workers, university students participating in community service programmes, and local elementary school children.

In Nusa Lembongan, the flags were raised underwater amid the island’s clear waters. At Kelingking Beach, they stood against the dramatic backdrop of towering cliffs and the open sea.

A total of 81 flags were displayed, representing the 81 years of Indonesia’s independence.

Nusa Penida Police Chief Commissioner I Ketut Kesuma Jaya said the locations and the involvement of different groups were deliberately chosen to strengthen a sense of national pride and encourage younger generations to connect with the meaning of independence.

“Independence must continue to be instilled, particularly among the younger generation. By raising the flags amid the natural beauty of Lembongan and Kelingking, we hope to foster a strong sense of patriotism, unity and pride in being Indonesian,” Kesuma Jaya said on Sunday.

The underwater display in Nusa Lembongan brought the red-and-white flags into one of Nusa Penida’s best-known marine environments, while the Kelingking installation placed them against the cliffs and ocean that have become closely associated with the island’s tourism appeal.

Police also encouraged residents and visitors in Nusa Penida to display the Indonesian flag in their own surroundings as part of the Independence Day celebrations.

The event combined a familiar symbol of Indonesia’s independence with the distinctive landscapes of Nusa Penida, turning the island’s waters and cliffs into part of the country’s annual August celebrations.