Connecticut General Assembly honors India and Indian Americans Independence Day anniversary

- ADVERTISEMENT -

The Connecticut Chapter of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO-CT) had a highly successful celebration on August 11, 2024, with flag hoisting at the Stamford Government Center, a ceremony with elected Connecticut officials and dignitaries. The celebrations, with a colorful festival, then continued at the Mill River Park in Stamford.

The day-long celebrations began with the hoisting of the American and Indian flags at the Stamford Government Center by Darien First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky, Rep. Matt Blumenthal (Stamford/Darien) and Rachel Khanna (Greenwich/Stamford) and Indian Consul Pragya Singh. American and Indian national anthems were sung by students of Stamford’s Hindi School.

More than 2,000 people attended, coming and going, through the day, starting with the flag hoisting at 11.30 am followed by the India Festival and Kite flying at the Mill River Park from 12 Noon to 4.00 pm, a press release from GOPIO said.

People came dressed in colorful traditional Indian attire. Popular Bollywood songs played, and dances depicting the wide variety of Indian culture, kite flying, spicy Indian cuisine, and booths decorated with Indian symbols and face art, the festivities were a treat to the fast-growing Indian American community in the state of Connecticut and New York’s Westchester County.

More than 20 performances by over 100 performers were presented at the cultural program.