Enviro News Asia, Washington, D.C. — The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Washington DC promoted Indonesian culture during the Around the World Embassy Tour held in Washington, D.C. on May 2, 2026, as part of the Passport DC cultural program.
The event took place at the University of the District of Columbia and coincided with Indonesia’s National Education Day. More than 50 embassies participated in the annual program, which allows the public to experience global cultures in a single day.
Indonesia presented a range of cultural performances and activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the university’s Student Center. Visitors watched traditional Balinese dances, including Pendet, Oleg Tamulilingan, Kembang Girang, and Jauk Manis, as well as a pencak silat demonstration performed by practitioners based in the United States. Pencak Silat has been recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.
The embassy also organized interactive sessions such as wayang drawing and batik workshops, while offering Indonesian culinary specialties to visitors. Performers from the upcoming musical drama “The Oath” appeared in traditional costumes to introduce the historical story of the Palapa Oath by Gajah Mada of the Majapahit Kingdom.
Indroyono Soesilo attended the event alongside visitors, supporting efforts to strengthen cultural diplomacy and public engagement.
Event organizer Events DC stated that the program provides a unique opportunity for residents to explore global cultures. This year’s event also marked the 250th anniversary of the United States, with participating embassies sharing information about their bilateral relations with the country.
Organizers expect hundreds of thousands of visitors to attend, following the 2025 edition, which recorded more than 369,000 participants. Visitors can also use the Events DC mobile application to collect virtual stamps and access augmented reality experiences at each embassy. (*)
