Indians across the globe donned patriotic colours today as they gathered to celebrate the 65th year of freedom of their homeland, unfurling the Indian tricolour and organising a series of cultural events.
In Beijing, a large gathering of Indian expats made it to the Indian embassy where Indian Ambassador S Jaishankar hoisted the national flag and later read out President Pratibha Patil's address to the nation.
In the Chinese financial hub of Shanghai, Consul General of India Riva Ganguly Das presided over the celebrations that were joined by Indian medical students from Suzhou and Nantong (Jiangsu Province) Universities and members of the Indian Association.
In New Jersey near New York, undeterred by heavy rains, Indians from all walks of life gathered to celebrate the day, participating in the parade, waiving the tricolour and singing patriotic songs and the Indian national anthem with fervour.
The parade organised in New Jersey that was attended by hundreds of Indians, also saw support for activist Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement as about 150 volunteers from 'India Against Corruption' walked in support of Hazare's Lokpal Bill.
Wearing 'Anna caps', the volunteers shouted slogans and waived placards carrying messages of solidarity for Hazare like 'I am Anna', 'It is not one Anna'.
People lined up at the sidewalks as they waved at passing floats and greeted each other during the nearly two hour parade organised by Indian Business Association of New Jersey.
However, another parade organised by the Oak Tree Indian Business Association was called off due to inclement weather.
