Indian Consulate, FIA, community, celebrate India’s 75th anniversary of independence with gusto

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Hundreds of Indians and Indian-Americans attended the Aug. 15, 2022 ceremony at the Indian Consulate in New York, to celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the 75^th anniversary of India’s independence. And more than a thousand people came together at Times Square to celebrate the landmark day for India.

Among those present at the Consulate was New York State Senator Kevin Thomas, the first Indian-American elected to the upper house of the state, a press release from the Consulate said.

During the program, Consul General Randhir Jaiswal unfurled the Indian tricolor and going by tradition, the speech of India’s President was also read out at the event.

Consul General Jaiswal also conferred Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) Quiz – 2022 Gold Medal for the PIO/OCI (People of Indian Origin/Overseas Citizen of India) category on Riya Dadheech. Udayan Dhar is another winner of the AKAM Quiz-2022 Gold Medal.

Congratulatory messages from several local elected officials and celebrities were received. Governors, State Assemblies and City Governments from nine States under the Consulate’s jurisdiction issued proclamations and citations celebrating India’s 75 years of independence.

Federation of Indian Associations

The same day, August 15, more than a thousand members of the community gathered in the heart of Times Square as the Federation of Indian Associations NY NJ CT NE held its annual Indian Tricolor hoisting ceremony.

Consul General Jaiswal hoisted the flag in the presence of distinguished community leaders including FIA Chairman Ankur Vaidya, FIA President Kenny Desai, Senior Advisor to FIA Dr. Sudhir Parikh, chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold. Other renowned guests included Indian rock star Devi Sri Prasad, renowned composer and singer Shankar Mahadevan, Mayor of New York City Eric Adams, Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi and Assemblyman from N.J. Raj Mukherji. Also present were Indian-American astronaut Raja Chari, and Formula 3 Race Car driver Atharva Desai.

Political leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party from India present at the event included Sambit Patra and  Kailash Vijayvargiya, who addressed the large gathering during the celebrations.

Consul General Jaiswal said it was a day that celebrates freedom, democracy, and all that India shares with the United States of America. He expressed confidence that the two nations will continue to strengthen ties.

Devi Sri Prasad expressed his pleasure to be at Times Square on this historic occasion and sang a few lines from ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ – a song composed by him and released on the eve of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.  He then sang the national anthem along with the gathering.

Mahadevan sang lines from the patriotic song ‘Ae Watan tu rahe..’ and said he was proud to represent India on this historic occasion.

Chairman of FIA, Vaidya thanked distinguished guests, including Mayor Adams who, he said had helped the Indian community as a City Councillor and said he would review incorporating Diwali as a holiday.

President of FIA Desai said he took immense pride that the Indian flag was hoisted at Times Square and praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav a global celebration.

The Rudra Dance Academy performed to the tune of Devi Sri Prasad’s song ‘Ghar Ghar Tiranga.’

Astronaut Chari expressed his joy and pride in attending the celebration and said his late father who hailed from Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, would have been extremely proud to see him being the guest of honor.

Formula 3 driver Desai, dressed in his racing car suit, expressed his joy at being a part of the celebrations.

Later in the day the, the FIA in collaboration with the Consulate lit up the iconic Empire Star Building in the Tricolors of the Indian Flag – saffron, white and green.

In the evening a 220 ft Khadi Tricolor was flown over the Hudson River – a spectacle photographed and shared on social media by thousands within just the first two hours of the lighting.