Jakarta’s tiny Uzbek community celebrated Monday its 18th anniversary of its Independence Day joyfully in a big way with hundreds of friends of Uzbekistan and members of the diplomatic corps in Jakarta.

Uzbekistan’s National Day actually fell on Sept. 1. Due to the holy month of Ramadan, the Uzbekistan Embassy postponed the celebrations.

This most populous Central Asian country gained independence from the Soviet Union on Sept. 1, 1991.
Uzbek Ambassador to Indonesia Shavkat Jamolov said that this year Uzbekistan also celebrating the 2,200th anniversary of the founding of the Uzbek capital, Tashkent.

“We’re very happy to have two celebrations at once [National Day and the anniversary of Tashkent],” the ambassador told Mantiki-network.

“We invited a special Uzbek chef who has prepared special Uzbek meal with pilao and samosa.”

Another important aspect of the reception was that it was held at the JW Marriott Hotel, the first diplomatic reception since the July bombings there, and after the long Idul Fitri holidays.

The colorful reception was attended by senior Indonesian government officials, including the Foreign Ministry’s secretary-general, Imron Cotan, and director general for Asia-Pacific and African Affairs, T.M. Hamzah Thayeb, as well as public figures and members of the diplomatic corps.

The guests stayed longer because of Uzbekistan’s mouthwatering traditional food, colorful music and fantastic dances.