Our Bureau
Washington, DC
As India celebrated its 78th Independence Day on Thursday, August 15, the Indian diaspora too dived into celebrations at the Indian embassy in the US.
At the Independence Day celebrations, India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, hoisted the tricolour at India House in Washington, DC. Members of the Indian diaspora and friends of India participated in the ceremony as well.
On the occasion, one of the diaspora members, Alexendra Das, said, “I was born and raised in India. I’ve been in the US for the last 11 years, so for me, Independence Day growing up was always a big thing. It was not just a day off, but in school and college we always have the flag hoisting. So, this at the ambassador residence is something I can totally relate to–something I missed being in the US so truly grateful to have the opportunity to be here.”
“It’s also very nice to see non-Indians be a part of this as well and celebrate with us still gives me a lot of pride when I sing the National anthem and performing here was a whole different experience altogether,” she said.
Another diaspora member, Lakshmi Swaminathan, the director of a dance school in US said, “I grew up in India and did my dance training in India, so on Indian Independence Day, just seeing the tricolour being hoisted still gives me goosebumps.”
“I have lived in this country for 31 years now and I’m proud to say I consider myself to be a cultural ambassador because the work I do here brings India’s culture and heritage through teaching Bharatanatyam to my students, some of whom have been born in India, but most of them are Indian Americans who have born in this country,” she said.
“It gives me immense pride and pleasure to bring India to them here in America and make them proud of their cultural heritage and teach them how great India is and its history, its culture and everything about India,” Swaminathan said.
Meanwhile, the Indian Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra, also made an address to the diaspora and other guests on the occasion of India’s 78th Independence Day at the India House.
He said, “I wish all the Indians a very happy Independence Day…India is growing very fast….The country has become the 5th largest economy in the world…”
India celebrated its 78th Independence Day, marking 77 years of freedom from British colonial rule on August 15, 1947.
