Indians all over the world are celebrating the 77th Independence Day on Tuesday, marking 76 years of freedom from British rule.
Waving the Indian tricolour, thousands of members of the Indian diaspora marched on the streets of major cities of Australia, including capital Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide, long before dawn.
The main flag hoisting ceremony took place at the High Commission of India in Canberra where High Commissioner Manpreet Vohra read President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the nation and also administered the ‘Panch Pran’ pledge holding ‘maati/diya’ in hand.
On the occasion, Indian diaspora members from different corners of India shared stories of their growing up years in India and presented beautiful performances in Indian regional languages.
Patriotic fervour also enveloped Melbourne where hundreds of Indians chanted slogans like ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’.
Mood in #Melbourne on 77th #IndiaIndependenceDay @cgimelbourne @HCICanberra @DrAmitSarwal @Pallavi_Aus @SarahLGates1 @Rohini_indo_aus @rishi_suri @chugh_ritesh @AusCG_Mumbai @KanchanGupta @AshaRaoRMIT pic.twitter.com/Nt6zV5xrY4
— The Australia Today (@TheAusToday) August 14, 2023
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is due to visit New Delhi for the G20 Leaders’ Summit next month, also extended Independence Day greetings to India.
“All Australians applaud India’s successes, and the many achievements that define this great country and its people,” said Albanese.
Indian Naval Ships Kolkata, Sahyadri and a P8I Maritime Patrol aircraft are currently participating in Exercise Malabar off the coast of Sydney which brings together six ships, several military aircraft and about 2000 personnel from navies of Quad partners India, Australia, Japan and the USA.
The Indian Tricolour🇮🇳 was hoisted onboard the #IndianNavy Warships #INSSahyadri & #INSKolkata at Sydney, Australia to commemorate the #77thIndependenceDay. pic.twitter.com/L3IiLEJQkp
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) August 15, 2023
“As I said in Mumbai in March, standing aboard INS Vikrant, it’s a privilege for Australia to host Exercise Malabar for the first time. And, of course, I’m grateful to Prime Minister Modi for passing the baton to Australia. It’s an important demonstration of the strength of the defence relationship between our countries,” Albanese said while hosting participating crews at Kirribilli.
In Perth, an India Day parade was held on Sunday to celebrate the festive spirit of independence and showcase the rich and vibrant culture of India.
Chilly Sunday morning in Perth but good turnout for the #India day parade #IndiaDay pic.twitter.com/TTVjLxpl59
— Thavash (e/acc) (@Thavash) August 13, 2023
In neighbouring Fiji, a large number of Indian diaspora joined the ‘Mitti Ki Khushboo-Mitti Ki Yadein’ session organised by the High Commission of India in Suva, reminiscing on years growing up in India and remembering the ‘veers’ who sacrificed their lives for the country.
#77thIndiaIndependenceDay Glimpses from Flag Hoisting Ceremony @ IndiaHouse, Suva today. HC @pskarthigeyan unveiled the Shilaphalakam & led the Panch Pran pledge commemorating #MeraMaatiMeraDesh under @AmritMahotsav. 🙏 members of diaspora & friends of India who joined the event. pic.twitter.com/1JG0AhbH4K
— India in Fiji (@HCI_Suva) August 15, 2023
In Tokyo, the Indian diaspora and friends of India in Japan, joined the Independence Day celebrations hosted by the Embassy of India in Japan. As part of the celebrations, a photo exhibition by school children and a ‘Hindustani music workshop’ was also organised at Vivekananda Cultural Centre.
Professional Musicians and students of Music in Japan attending an interactive “Hindustani Music Workshop” with Ustaad Johar Ali at Vivekananda Cultural Centre @IndianEmbTokyo #ConnectingHimalayaswithMountFuji pic.twitter.com/Z246eALAdq
— ICCR in Japan (Vivekananda Cultural Centre,Tokyo) (@ICCR_Japan) August 12, 2023
In Phnom Penh, the vibrant Indian diaspora in Cambodia joined Ambassador Devyani Khobragade at the Indian embassy to celebrate the day symbolizing unity and solidarity.
Amb @devyani_K led the charge today, hoisting the majestic Indian Flag in the presence of our proud Indian diaspora. And that’s not all – as our voices joined together, we sang the soul-stirring Indian national anthem, filling the Embassy with an atmosphere of pure patriotism! pic.twitter.com/gZM04KkpCo
— India in Cambodia (@indembcam) August 15, 2023
Closer home, in a significant gesture, High Commissioner and officers of High Commission of India in Colombo paid homage at the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) Memorial on India’s Independence Day.
The memorial is a ‘Shilaphalakam’ (memorial plaque) for the 1200 Indian soldiers of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) who who made the supreme sacrifice defending peace and unity of Sri Lanka in the country’s fight against the LTTE.
Saluting the brave hearts!
High Commissioner and officers of High Commission of India pay homage at the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) Memorial. The memorial is a #Shilaphalakm for the Veers of 🇮🇳 soldiers of IPKF who made the supreme sacrifice defending peace & unity of 🇱🇰. pic.twitter.com/lBxL0LrKzZ
— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) August 15, 2023
Meanwhile, in Dubai, the iconic Burj Khalifa dazzled in Indian tricolor at midnight to celebrate the country’s Independence day.
#Watch: Burj Khalifa lit up with the Indian flag on the occasion of Independence Day. #HappyIndependenceDay pic.twitter.com/VP01ucH8Ka
— INDIA NARRATIVE (@india_narrative) August 14, 2023
