Indian Ambassador Vinay Kwatra Celebrates India’s 78th Independence Day in the US
Washington, DC [US], August 16: India celebrated its 78th Independence Day on August 15, and the Indian community in the US joined in the festivities at the Indian embassy. India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, hoisted the tricolour at India House in Washington, DC. Many members of the Indian diaspora and friends of India attended the event.
One of the attendees, Alexendra Das, shared her feelings, saying, “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.”
Another attendee, Lakshmi Swaminathan, who is the director of a dance school in the 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.”
Ambassador Vinay Kwatra addressed the gathering, saying, “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 marked 77 years of freedom from British colonial rule on August 15, 1947. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag at the Red Fort in New Delhi for the 11th consecutive time. The theme for this year’s Independence Day is ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047,’ aiming to transform India into a developed nation by 2047.
Leaders from around the world, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, extended their greetings to India. Macron expressed his eagerness to work with Prime Minister Modi to achieve the ambitious goals set for the strategic partnership between the two nations. Putin highlighted India’s success in various fields and its high authority on the world stage. Meloni affirmed the importance of the India-Italy strategic partnership and expressed confidence in achieving great things together.
Doubts Revealed
Indian Ambassador -: An ambassador is a person who represents their country in another country. Vinay Kwatra is the Indian Ambassador to the US, meaning he represents India in the United States.
Independence Day -: Independence Day is a special day when a country celebrates its freedom. India celebrates its Independence Day on August 15 every year because it became free from British rule on this day in 1947.
78th Independence Day -: This means that India has been celebrating its freedom for 78 years since 1947.
US -: US stands for the United States of America, which is a country in North America.
tricolour -: The tricolour is the national flag of India. It has three colors: saffron (orange) at the top, white in the middle, and green at the bottom, with a blue wheel in the center.
India House -: India House is the official residence of the Indian Ambassador in Washington, DC, the capital of the United States.
Washington, DC -: Washington, DC is the capital city of the United States of America.
Alexendra Das -: Alexendra Das is one of the people who attended the Independence Day celebration at the Indian embassy in the US.
Lakshmi Swaminathan -: Lakshmi Swaminathan is another person who attended the Independence Day celebration at the Indian embassy in the US.
5th largest economy -: This means that India is the fifth biggest country in the world in terms of the total value of all the goods and services it produces.
French President Macron -: Emmanuel Macron is the President of France, a country in Europe. He sent greetings to India on its Independence Day.
Russian President Putin -: Vladimir Putin is the President of Russia, a large country that is part of both Europe and Asia. He also sent greetings to India on its Independence Day.
Italian Prime Minister Meloni -: Giorgia Meloni is the Prime Minister of Italy, a country in Europe. She sent greetings to India on its Independence Day.