Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
With a variety of dance, music, cultural events and ceremonial addresses betraying patriotic fervor, the Indian-American community celebrated the 67th Republic Day of India Jan. 26 with verve and enthusiasm.
Far away from their motherland they had left long time ago, or even in recent times, men and women, young and old, gathered in strength at town squares or at prominent public places in many cities, big and small – from New York to Chicago to California where the community has considerable presence— to celebrate Jan. 26, the day India became a republic and its constitution entered into force in 1950.
The main attraction was the ceremonial hoisting of the Indian tri-color by Indian Government officials, or in some cases, community leaders, to the accompaniment of India’s national song and the national anthem. The main official event was held at the Indian embassy in Washington D.C. where Ambassador Arun K. Singh, India’s envoy to the United States, unfurled the tri-color in the presence of a large number of Indian-Americans invited for the event at the embassy. A measure of patriotism was the presence of a large number of people in Washington D.C. which suffered heavy snow the week before and many parts of Washington and its surrounding areas were yet to recover from the blizzard.
Before unfurling the national flag and addressing the community Singh paid floral tributes to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in front of the embassy.
Dallas
It was not just in the D.C., Gandhi was honored almost everywhere else. In Dallas, for example, the community held the celebrations at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Plaza in the city of Irving. Rao Kalvala, secretary, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial of North Texas, in his welcome address said that this Gandhi Memorial became the landmark for the Indian-American community to celebrate prominent annual events like India’s Republic Day, India’s Independence Day, Mahatma Gandhi Birthday and International Day of Yoga. “Mahatma Gandhi’s messages must be carried forward,’ he said.
In Central Ohio, the day was celebrated with enthusiasm. The Federation of Indian Association of Central Ohio (FIA-Ohio) celebrated the day with flag-hoisting ceremony held at the State House in Downtown Columbus. FIA President Urvish Shelat, vice-president Rushikesh Vyas and chairman Neil Patel hoisted the Indian Flag outside the State House. This was followed by recitation of Indian National Song and Indian National Anthem.
Chicago
The Federation of Indian Associations hosted the Republic Day celebrations over the weekend in Chicago Jan. 24. “While different organizations representing Indian-Americans may separately celebrate different events under their respective banners, all of them should come forward to join hands to have one single united celebration for two events of great national importance – Independence Day and Republic Day,” said Ausaf Sayeed, Consul General of India in Chicago, who was the chief guest.
New York
The Consul General of India in New York, Ambassador Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay, hosted a reception to celebrate the 67th Republic Day of India Jan. 26. A large number of guests consisting of prominent dignitaries like New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Commissioner Upendra Chivikula, Amb. Syed Akbaruddin, India’s Permanenet Representative to the United Nations and a host of community leaders.
The evening began with singing of the national anthems of the two countries, and reading out of excerpts from the President’s message on the eve of the 67th Republic Day of India, by Deputy Consul General Dr. Manoj Mohapatra.
Consul General Mulay welcomed the guests and highlighted the notable achievements India has made in the past year. Addressing the gathering, Mulay said that the true beauty of India lies in its diversity. India, he noted, is a country with collection of different views, cultures, sub-cultures people, and when one celebrates the Republic Day one is actually celebrating this unity in diversity.
Amb. Syed Akbaruddin also spoke about the non-resident Indians who are the real Ambassadors of India and that they should also support the efforts in making India a global leader and he is ready to take up their matters in the United Nations.
The event concluded with cake cutting ceremony followed by classical dance performance by Arya Dance Academy of New York.
The post Community Celebrates India’s 67th Republic Day Across The U.S. appeared first on News India Times.