Thousands of Indians across the world today proudly celebrated India’s 73rd Independence Day with the tri-colour fluttering high and the national anthem reverberating at Indian missions abroad. Indians in China, Australia and many other countries marked the day with hoisting of the national flag and singing of patriotic songs.

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 Vikram Misri hoisted the tri-colour at the India House and read out President Ram Nath Kovind’s address to the nation.

In Australia, a large number of Indian expatriates attended the flag hoisting ceremonies held at the Indian High Commission in Canberra and consulate buildings in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. Extending his best wishes to the Indian diaspora on the occasion, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the community was a rich and vibrant part of modern, multicultural Australia.

Indian community in Sri Lanka celebrated the nation’s 73rd   Independence Day with enthusiasm and nationalistic fervour. The main ceremony was held at the India House in Colombo this morning where Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu unfurled the Indian tricolour and read out excerpts of speech of the President Ramnath Kovind.  The ceremony was attended by hundreds of Indian citizens living in the city. A BSF contingent staged an impressive march past.

Addressing the gathering, Indian High Commissioner recalled the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka in June for expressing solidarity with Sri Lankans after Easter Sunday attacks.  He recounted the steps taken to strengthen the bonds between the two neighbours. The ceremony closed with staging of dance performances by artistes from Swami Vivekanand Cultural Centre in Colombo. Later, the High Commissioner and officials of the Indian High Commission paid floral tributes to the martyrs at the Indian Peace Keeping Force Memorial at Battaramula in Colombo. The High Commission is also organizing a special event titled Strings of Harmony- a musical Jugalbandi featuring legendary Santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and his son Pandit Rahul Sharma in Colombo this evening. Similar celebrations are being held by Indian consulates in Jaffna, Hambantota and Kandy.

Consul General of India in Dubai Vipul led the Indian expats today in celebrating the 73rd  Independence Day in Dubai by unfurling the national flag at the Consulate. Hundreds of Indian expats from different walks of life gathered in the back lawns of the Indian Consulate to mark the occasion. The children dressed in colourful attire waved the tricolour. Consul General Vipul read out excerpts of the speech given by the President of India on the eve of the Indian Independence Day to the Indian Community. It was followed by a brief cultural programme.

The Indian flag was also hoisted by the Indian Community in other Emirates of the UAE. In Abu Dhabi, the national flag was unfurled by Ambassador Navdeep Suri. Hundreds of Indian expats based in Abu Dhabi had gathered in the Embassy for the occasion.
Ambassador Suri also unveiled the bust of Mahatma Gandhi at the premises of the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi to mark the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation.  Similar celebrations were held in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The 73rd Independence Day is also being celebrated with patriotic fervour in Nepal. The main function was held at Embassy of India in Kathmandu, where Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri unfurled the tri- colour. Besides Embassy officials and their family members, hundreds of people from Indian community and friends of India enthusiastically participated in the Independence Day celebrations. After hoisting the national flag Ambassador Puri read out the President’s message. He also felicitated three Veer Naris, five widows and six kins of deceased soldiers of the Indian Army by distributing their dues worth 5.31 crore Nepali rupees.

On this occasion, Indian Embassy gifted books to 40 libraries and educational institutions of Nepal. Ambassador Puri also handed over keys of 30 ambulances and six buses to various hospitals, non-profit charitable organizations and educational institutions by reaffirming Government of India’s commitment to partner with Nepal in its journey towards socio-economic development. The Government of India has so far gifted 752 ambulances and 148 buses to various hospitals, non-profit charitable organizations and educational institutions of 77 districts in Nepal, expanding health care access for thousands of Nepali people and serving to the educational needs of the thousands of students.

The students of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Kendriya Vidyalaya and Modern Indian School presented patriotic songs. The ceremony concluded with a mesmerizing performance by the Nepal Army Band.

In Birgunj, Acting Consul General of India, Ramesh Prasad Chaturvedi hoisted the national flag. Chief Minister of Province 2 Mohammad Lalbabu Raut, other dignitaries and a large number of people from Indian community and friends of India also joined Independence Day celebrations.

AIR correspondent reports that the Embassy of India at Kathmandu was fully gripped by patriotic fervour. After hoisting the national flag, Ambassador Puri read out the President’s message. On this occasion,  books, buses and ambulances were gifted to various educational institutions, hospitals and non-profit charitable organizations of Nepal. The students of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Modern Indian School and Nepal Army Band added colours of Patriotism in the Independence Day celebrations with their mesmerising performances. Besides Embassy officials and their families, hundreds of people from Indian community and  friends of India enthusiastically participated in the celebrations.