National emblem of Indonesia

The national emblem of Indonesia is called Garuda Pancasila. It features a majestic Garuda with a heraldic shield on its chest and a scroll gripped by its legs. This shield holds five important symbols that represent Pancasila, the five guiding principles of Indonesia's national ideology.

The Garuda holds a white ribbon scroll with the words Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, which means "Unity in Diversity." This motto shows that even though Indonesia has many different groups, they all work together as one nation.

The design of Garuda Pancasila was created by Sultan Hamid II from Pontianak and supervised by Sukarno. It became the official national emblem on February 11, 1950, and is a proud symbol of Indonesia today.

History

The Garuda Pancasila adopted on 11 February 1950, still without crest and with different position of talons.

Garuda, the carrier of the Hindu god Vishnu, appears in many ancient temples across Indonesia, such as Mendut, Borobudur, and Prambanan. In stories, Garuda stands for knowledge, power, bravery, loyalty, and discipline. After Indonesia gained independence, there was a need for a national emblem. A committee was formed to choose one, and two designs were finalists. The design by Sultan Hamid II was chosen and improved over time. President Sukarno introduced the final design to the public in 1950. The emblem features Garuda holding a shield that represents Pancasila, Indonesia's national ideology.

Scroll and motto

Main article: Bhinneka Tunggal Ika

The Garuda bird in Indonesia's emblem holds a scroll with the country's motto, "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika". This phrase comes from an old poem called "Sutasoma" by a poet from the Majapahit Empire. It means "Different but still one," showing the importance of unity among people who are unique. This idea helped build a strong and peaceful nation in Indonesia.

Uses

The National Emblem of Indonesia is used to represent the Indonesian government. You can see it on important buildings like palaces, government offices, and embassies. It is also placed in classrooms, usually above pictures of the President and Vice-President.

A depiction of the Garuda Pancasila on a c. 1987 poster; each tenet of the Pancasila is written beside its symbol.

The emblem appears on naval ships, showing they belong to the government. Leaders such as governors and mayors wear it on their hats, and the President uses it on airplanes. Many official flags, like those of ministries, provinces, the military, and police, feature the emblem too. It is also part of the symbols for important groups like the Corruption Eradication Commission, General Elections Commission, People's Representative Council, and Regional Representative Council.

In sports, the emblem is used on uniforms, and the Indonesia national football team is nicknamed the "Garuda Team". Some political groups have used parts of the emblem for their symbols, which has sometimes caused discussion among people.

Symbolism

The statue of Garuda Pancasila displayed in the Ruang Kemerdekaan (Independence Room) at the National Monument (Monas), Jakarta.

The national emblem of Indonesia is called Garuda Pancasila. It features a special bird, the Garuda, holding a shield and a scroll. The Garuda is inspired by an eagle-like bird found in Java and represents strength and power.

The shield on the Garuda has five parts, each showing a symbol that stands for one of Indonesia’s five main ideas, called Pancasila. These symbols include a star for belief in one God, a chain for unity among people, a banyan tree for the unity of the country, a bull for democracy, and rice and cotton for fairness and justice for all.

Mars Pancasila

The Mars Pancasila, often called Garuda Pancasila, is a patriotic song made to honor Indonesia’s struggle. It was written by Sudharnoto.

The song’s words speak about supporting the nation, being ready to help, and moving forward together for a better future. It celebrates the ideals and spirit of Indonesia.