Indians abroad celebrate Independence Day with traditional fervour

Thousands of Indians across the world on Wednesday proudly celebrated India's 72nd Independence Day with the tricolour fluttering high and the national anthem reverberating at Indian missions abroad.

Indians in the US, China, Pakistan, Australia, Singapore and many other countries marked the day with hoisting of the national flag and singing of patriotic songs.

Independence Day was celebrated with joy, fervour and special resonance at the High Commission of India in the Pakistani capital Islamabad. The occasion was marked by High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria hoisting the national flag, singing of the National Anthem, a cultural program, and tea.

"High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria in his Independence Day message spoke of India's philosophy of 'Vasudeva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family) and hoped the 'new India' and 'new Pakistan' would build a 'new future' of peace and prosperity, substantially different from the past," the Indian mission tweeted.

The Indian envoy commenced the celebrations by paying floral tributes to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi.

In Beijing, a large number of the Indian diaspora took part in the Independence Day celebrations held at the Indian Embassy.

India's Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale hoisted the tricolour and read out President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the nation.

Several Indian dignitaries, including BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav, President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, and senior Congress leader Karan Singh, who are currently in China, took part in the flag hoisting ceremony. A large number of Indians were present at the occasion.

In Washington, Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna read out the president's address to mark the country's Independence Day.

In Houston, several Indian-Americans converged at the Consulate General early today where Consul General Anupam Ray unfurled the tricolour.

Independence Day was also marked in Russian capital Moscow with much enthusiasm and fervour. A large enthusiastic crowd gathered at the Indian Embassy as Indian envoy Pankaj Saran unfurled the national flag.

He read out the president's address to the nation to the 500-strong gathering that included Indian citizens, people of Indian origin and Russian nationals. The event included a cultural performance by the children from the Embassy of India School, Moscow.

In Australia, a large number of Indian expatriates attended the flag hoisting ceremonies held at the Indian High Commission in Canberra and consulates in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to mark the day.

Congratulating the Indian government, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said that India and Australia were great friends with a lot in common as modern, vibrant and diverse democracies.

"Australia's large and growing Indian community makes a much valued contribution to so many areas of our national life - and has for many year," Turnbull said here in an official statement.

"Whether through culture, community, education, science or enterprise, Indian-Australians are helping make our nation stronger and more dynamic. We have a connection and friendship that stretch from Adelaide to Amritsar, Hobart to Hyderabad and everywhere in between," he said.

Turnbull said that he was fortunate to have seen the flourishing relationship first hand during his visit to India last year.

"I am confident that our deepening ties will ensure that these friendly relations will continue to prosper in the coming year," he said.

In his congratulatory message, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs minister Alan Tudge said, "India today is the world's largest democracy sharing our liberal democratic values and commitment to freedom.

"As Australia's fifth largest export market, and our 10th largest trading partner overall, Australia and India have a relationship based on strong political, economic and community ties," he said.

Tudge highlighted that investment between the two sides have grown significantly in the last decade and the number of Indians born in Australia also jumped.

Meanwhile, Indian diaspora across the country held several cultural events and special dinners to mark the occasion.

Last week, Bollywood actress Rani Mukherjee, who was attending the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2018, hoisted the tricolour at the iconic building Federation Square here.

In Singapore, more than 500 Indians in Singapore joined High Commissioner Jawed Ashraf in celebrating India's Independent Day.

The Indian flag was unfurled in the presence of more than 800 Indian nationals.
A concert of patriotic songs and cultural performance was also organised to mark the occasion.

A mid-morning reception was hosted at the Indian High Commission for the business community linked to India.

Members of the Indian community in the Netherlands also celebrated India's 72nd Independence Day here with fervour.

The celebrations began with the hoisting of the national flag by the Indian Ambassador to the Netherlands Venu Rajamony and singing of the national anthem, Over 600 Indians and others gathered at 'India House' - the residence of the Indian envoy in Wassenaar - on the occasion.

In Nepal, Indian Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri gifted 30 ambulances and six buses to Nepalese hospitals, charitable organisations and educational institutions at a function at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

Puri felicitated widows and wards of deceased Nepalese soldiers of the Indian armed forces by distributing cheques worth 53.5 million Nepalese rupees.