India’s 80th Independence Day Celebrated Across US

WASHINGTON, DC – Communities across the US marked India’s 80th Independence Day with flag-hoisting ceremonies, parades and cultural programmes in Washington, Chicago, Boston and Seattle.

At India House here, Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra praised the diaspora for its contribution to India’s development and India-US relations.

Kwatra said the eight decades since independence had been a period of “success and achievement” and had positioned India for its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.

The celebrations included the hoisting of the Tricolor, cultural performances and awards for winners of painting and quiz competitions. Kwatra also read President Droupadi Murmu’s Independence Day address.

Children also took part in the program with paintings depicting Indian traditions, technology and their vision for India in 2047.Ten-year-old Anvika Kajjam, whose family traces its roots to Telangana, won first prize in her category for a painting showing a greener, technologically advanced India.

Boston

Boston hosted the fifth International India Day Parade and Freedom Festival organized by the Foundation of Indian Americans New England, with the Prudential Center illuminated in the Indian tricolor for the first time.

The parade was inaugurated by Raghuram S., Consul General of India in Boston. US Navy representative Maggie Lemay and retired Indian Army Colonel Inderpreet Singh served as grand marshals.

Seattle

In Seattle, the Consulate General of India released a special rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ performed by Grammy Award-winning violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan and students of the Swara Yoga Ensemble.

The performance was filmed at the Consulate. The Tricolor was also hoisted atop the Federal Reserve Building in the presence of US officials and Indian-American community leaders.

Seattle had marked India’s Independence Day last year by raising the Tricolor atop the Space Needle.

Chicago

In Schaumburg, FIA-Chicago organized its second Triranga Car Rally, with nearly 50 decorated cars displaying Indian and American flags.

The rally opened with the national anthem and patriotic slogans. FIA-Chicago President Hemant Patel thanked rally chair Sanjay Vora and the participants.

Representatives of several Indian-American community organizations joined the event, which was followed by a flag-hoisting ceremony and Independence Day Parade hosted by National India Hub.

(IANS)