New York: The 75th anniversary of Indian Independence was celebrated with patriotic fervor across the country and abroad.
In New York, over a thousand members of the community gathered in the heart of Times Square as the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA NY-NJ-CT-NE) held its annual Indian Tricolor hoisting on Times Square.
Consul General of India Randhir Jaswal hoisted the flag at Times Square. Those who witnessed the historical event included Mayor of New York City Eric Adams, Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi, and Assemblyman from NJ Raj Mukharjee. Indian American NASA astronaut Raja Chari, Formula 3 Race Car driver Atharva Desai, the famous rock star from India Devi Sri Prasad, and renowned composer and singer Shankar Mahadevan were also present at the occasion.
FIA in collaboration with the Consulate also organized a tricolor lighting Ceremony at Empire State Building in New York City.
Members of the Indian American community also hoisted the tricolor at their homes to mark the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence. The diaspora also urged fellow Indians across the globe to join the “Har Ghar Tiranga” campaign, under the aegis of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav”.
U.S. President Joe Biden greeted India on the occasion of her 76th Independence Day and said that the Indian-American community has made their country a more innovative, inclusive, and stronger nation.
In Washington, Ambassador of India Taranjit Singh Sandhu unfurled the tricolor at the India House. Sandhu, while speaking at the event, heralded the Indian diaspora as an instrumental part of the India-US relationship.
The reception hosted by Sandhu, marking the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence, saw an unprecedented attendance by leading members of the Biden administration’s cabinet. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai was also in attendance, apart from other senior U.S. officials.
On August 16, Ambassador Sandhu hosted a ‘national reception’ onboard the Indian naval warship INS Satpura in San Diego.
The Consulate General of India in New York celebrated the 76th Independence Day at the Consulate in the presence of members of the community, including State Senator, New York Kevin Thomas – the first Indian-American State Senator in New York.
Governors, State Assemblies, and City Governments from nine States under the Consulate’s jurisdiction issued proclamations, and citations celebrating India’s 75 years of independence were acknowledged at the event.
The largest India Day Parade in downtown New York City is scheduled to be held on August 21 by FIA in collaboration with the Consulate.
