Jakarta. Two men held rubber bands at chest height while a woman hopped over them from side to side, earning cheers and applause from onlookers impressed by her leaps.

They were among more than 250 participants from the Jakarta area joining weekly activities organized by Komunitas Bermain, or "Playing Community," at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, the city’s main arena.

Thousands of residents regularly take part in these play groups, as well as singing events hosted by Nyanyi Bareng Jakarta (“Jakarta Singing Together”). What began as casual meetups to preserve Indonesian traditional culture has grown into a social media-fueled phenomenon, connecting people through shared nostalgia and interests.

Playing Community founder Akihiko Akira, 23, said the group started when he and fellow Taylor Swift fans gathered in August 2024 to play childhood games at Gelora Bung Karno.

Now, hundreds gather Friday evenings for traditional games including gundu, where players flick a small marble; suit monopoli, in which participants hop over shoes on a path; and classic jump rope.

“From my own experience, it’s nostalgic. Nostalgia is really helpful, it releases our inner child and eases stress. It’s a short escape,” Akira said.

Biya Angelina, 25, a social media specialist, joined because her work keeps her online and isolated.

“The best part is that I automatically get exercise. I also build a social life here, meeting people from different backgrounds. I understand people better,” she said, adding that the evenings are free to enjoy.

Nyanyi Bareng Jakarta gives amateur vocalists a chance to sing together in a rented hall, performing hits like Phil Collins’ You’ll Be in My Heart. The group uses the motto “finding friends, finding voice” and promotes its events online with the hashtag #nojudgementzone. Five vocal coaches help participants harmonize and improve their singing.

“I’m a bathroom singer. Here I feel comfortable because it’s a no-judgment zone. I’m not afraid if I hit a wrong note,” said Titas Winola, who works in food and beverage. “Everyone accepts you as you are, it’s awesome.”

Weekly sessions cost 150,000 rupiah ($9) and consistently sell out.

“When people sing in the bathroom, they sing bravely. We want Nyanyi Bareng Jakarta to feel like a bathroom for you,” co-founder Meda Kawu told participants.

Muhamad Sulhan, a media sociology lecturer at Gadjah Mada University, said shared play and singing help people connect with strangers, explore themselves, and take a break from the stress of work and city life.

“We’re not seeing them as different people, but as individuals longing for an avatar of themselves expressed through a shared passion,” Sulhan said.

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