Washington, DC [US], August 16 : As India celebrated its 78th Independence Day on Thursday, August 15, the Indian diaspora too dived into celebrations at the Indian embassy in the US.

At the Independence Day celebrations, India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, hoisted the tricolour at India House in Washington, DC. Members of the Indian diaspora and friends of India participated in the ceremony as well.

Celebrating the 78th Independence Day of India 🇮🇳

Ambassador Shri Vinay Kwatra hoisted the tricolour at India House. Members of the Indian diaspora and friends of India participated in the ceremony. pic.twitter.com/EedHUu3g3a

— India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) August 15, 2024

Advertisement

While speaking toon the occasion, one of the diaspora members, Alexendra Das, said, “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 tosomething I missed being in the US so truly grateful to have the opportunity to be here.”

“It’s also very nice to see non-Indians be a part of this as well and celebrate with us still gives me a lot of pride when I sing the National anthem and performing here was a whole different experience altogether,” she said.

Another diaspora member, Lakshmi Swaminathan, the director of a dance school in 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,” she told ANI.

“It gives me immense pride and pleasure to bring India to them here in America and make them proud of their cultural heritage and teach them how great India is and its history, its culture and everything about India,” Swaminathan said.

Meanwhile, the Indian Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra, also made an address to the diaspora and other guests on the occasion of India’s 78th Independence Day at the India House.

He said, “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 is celebrated its 78th Independence Day today, marking 77 years of freedom from British colonial rule on August 15, 1947. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag on Thursday at the Red Fort in the national capital for the 11th consecutive time on the occasion.

The theme for this year’s Independence Day is ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047,’ aiming to drive the government’s efforts to transform India into a developed nation by 2047.

Leaders from across the globe wished India on the occasion and stressed building even stronger ties with New Delhi in the coming years.

French President Emmanuel Macron was one of the first leaders to wish on the occasion and expressed his eagerness to work with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to achieve the ambitious goals set for the strategic partnership between the two nations.

Macron shared a picture on X and wrote, “Congratulations to the Indian people on your 78th Independence Day!”

Russian President Vladimir Putin extended greetings to India stating that Moscow attaches great importance to the relations of a particularly privileged strategic partnership with New Delhi and intends to further develop ties.

“Over 77 years of independent development, your country has achieved generally recognised success in the socio-economic, scientific-technical and many other spheres, and has earned high authority on the world stage,” Putin said in a statement addressed to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni extended her greetings to all Indians on the occasion of the 78th Independence Day and affirmed that India-Italy strategic partnership is an important pillar for the future.

Meloni further said that New Delhi and Rome share an ever-stronger bond, and said she is confident that together the two nations will achieve “great things.”

Prime Minister Modi thanked PM Meloni for her wishes and expressed hope that the India-Italy friendship keeps growing and contributing towards a “better planet.”

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

Open in app

DC Theatre Week is back this fall, offering discounted tickets ($20, $40, or $60) to productions around the region from Thursday, September 26 to Sunday, October 13. The promotion, which launched in 2016, was inspired by DC’s popular Restaurant Week, when dining spots around town offer discounted menus.

Tickets for the 28 eligible shows go on sale Monday, September 9. They include Romeo and Juliet at the new Folger Shakespeare Library; Jaja’s African Hair-Braiding at Arena Stage; Babbitt, a political satire starring Matthew Broderick at Shakespeare Theatre Company; and a one-man show about Abe Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre.

A series of events—some are free—will explore the history of theater around the region. Check out downtown DC’s stages with a walking tour on Saturday, September 21 (1 PM, free) or a bike tour (time and price TBA). Learn about the area’s upcoming theater season through a panel discussion at the Dillon Ripley Center on Monday, September 23 (6:45 PM, tickets $20-25). Or check out the kickoff party at Arena Stage on Saturday, September 28, which includes free food and drinks, interactive exhibits, and performances (1 to 5 PM, free tickets here).

DC has one of the country’s most thriving theater scenes. Amy Austin, the CEO and president of Theatre Washington, which runs Theatre Week, credits nationally known theaters like the Kennedy Center and Arena Stage, plus a community of artists she says is less competitive than those in other cities.

Austin says she’s particularly excited for this year’s City on the River concert at the Wharf on Sunday, September 22 (2 PM, free), when actors and musicians will perform showtunes from recent and upcoming productions. Or, as she puts it: “It’s hundreds of people on the Wharf listening to local artists and getting an understanding of how some of the best in the country are living and working here.”

WASHINGTON – Smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted back into the Washington, D.C. region on Thursday, bringing hazy sunshine to parts of the area.

FOX 5’s Tucker Barnes says the smoke may create a milky white haze, which is expected to improve slightly as the day progresses. 

The smoke pushed into the region Wednesday afternoon and evening. It also covered parts of Pennsylvania and New York.

The National Weather Service says the raging wildfires in northern Canada are generating smoke plumes that are being pushed south on north and northwest winds. NWS says the smoke is more diffused and elevated in the higher levels of our area.

We can expect the warmest day of the week on Thursday, with temperatures nearing 90 degrees and abundant sunshine. While this is a slight relief from the upper-90s and triple-digit temperatures seen earlier this summer, humidity is expected to rise on Friday and Saturday, leading to a higher chance of storms and rain over the weekend.

Thursday morning started pleasantly with temperatures around 69 degrees in the immediate D.C. area and cooler readings in the 50s in the mountains. Dry skies are expected.