Bill Gates Kicks Off First India Day in Seattle Celebrating India’s 78th Independence Day
Seattle [US], August 18: The first India Day celebrations in the Greater Seattle area were inaugurated by Bill Gates, Chairperson of the Gates Foundation, on India’s 78th Independence Day. Gates addressed over 2,000 members of the Indian American community, praising India’s global leadership in innovation, technology, agriculture, and healthcare.
Guest of Honour: Bill Gates
Bill Gates was the Guest of Honour at the event. He highlighted India’s contributions to the world, including manufacturing low-cost vaccines and developing digital public infrastructure. Gates emphasized that India’s ingenuity benefits not just Indians but the entire world.
Community and Cultural Showcases
The event showcased India’s diverse cultural heritage through floats and performances, celebrating the theme of Unity in Diversity. Each float was created by prominent leaders of the Indian American community, reflecting important aspects of India’s rich cultural heritage.
Official Proclamations and Special Gestures
Five separate official proclamations were issued by governments and city councils of King County, Bellevue City (Washington), Portland (Oregon), Hillsboro (Oregon), and Tigard (Oregon) to honor the India Day celebrations. Mark Gordon, Governor of Wyoming, also sent a congratulatory message. Iconic buildings in Seattle and Bellevue were lit up in tricolors to mark the occasion.
Distinguished Participants
Other distinguished participants included Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, Congressman Adam Smith, Lt General Xavier Brunson, Rear Admiral Mark Sucato, Washington Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck, Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, and Chief Justice of the Washington Supreme Court Steve Gonzalez. Mayors from Bellevue, Tacoma, Kent, Auburn, Renton, SeaTac, Snoqualmie, and Mercer Island also joined the celebrations.
Doubts Revealed
Bill Gates -: Bill Gates is a very famous person who started Microsoft, a big computer company. He is also known for helping people through his charity work.
India Day -: India Day is a special event to celebrate India’s culture and achievements. It is like a big party where people enjoy music, dance, and food from India.
Seattle -: Seattle is a big city in the United States. It is known for its technology companies and beautiful scenery.
78th Independence Day -: India’s Independence Day is celebrated on August 15th every year. It marks the day in 1947 when India became free from British rule. The 78th Independence Day means it has been 78 years since that day.
Indian Americans -: Indian Americans are people who live in the United States but have roots or family from India. They celebrate both American and Indian traditions.
Innovation -: Innovation means creating new ideas or products that make life better. For example, new types of phones or medicines are innovations.
Technology -: Technology includes tools and machines that help us do things more easily, like computers, smartphones, and the internet.
Agriculture -: Agriculture is the practice of farming. It includes growing crops and raising animals for food.
Healthcare -: Healthcare is the field that helps people stay healthy. It includes doctors, hospitals, and medicines.
Cultural heritage -: Cultural heritage includes traditions, languages, and arts that are passed down from generation to generation. It is what makes a group of people unique.
Floats -: Floats are decorated platforms that are part of parades. They often have people, music, and decorations that represent a theme.
Proclamations -: Proclamations are official announcements made by leaders to recognize special events or achievements.
Tricolors -: Tricolors refer to the three colors of the Indian flag: saffron (orange), white, and green.
Congresswomen and Congressmen -: Congresswomen and Congressmen are people elected to make laws in the United States. They represent the people in their area.
Local city leaders -: Local city leaders are people who manage the city, like the mayor. They help make decisions to improve the city.