Gulf NRIs and Indian Missions Celebrate 80th Independence Day

Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Indian diplomatic missions across the Gulf region celebrated India’s 80th Independence Day on Saturday with flag hoisting ceremonies, patriotic programmes, and community events.

Indian missions and Indian schools in the region marked the occasion under the “Suryapath Tiranga” initiative, which represents a symbolic relay of the Tricolour across the globe. The initiative involves Indian missions hoisting the national flag in succession from east to west as daylight advances.

For the first time during the celebrations, the national song Vande Mataram was officially rendered in full. In previous years, only the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, was traditionally sung at these events.

In Dubai, the newly appointed Consul General, Dr. E. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, hoisted the national flag and read excerpts from President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the nation. Dr. Reddy stated that community welfare and enhancing commerce were among his primary priorities, and noted that the consulate had successfully cleared the pendency of all passport applications. A day prior to the celebrations, the consulate also observed “Partition Horror Remembrance”.

Community activists Mohammed Masiuddin and SV Reddy of Telangana observed a significant turnout at the Dubai event, noting that the consulate witnessed a huge crowd for the first time in recent history for Independence Day celebrations.

Elsewhere in the region, Ambassador Deepak Mittal hoisted the Tricolour in Abu Dhabi. In Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Vipul hoisted the national flag at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh amid chanting of Bharat Mata ki Jai by community members, while Consul General Fahad Khan Suri led the flag-hoisting ceremony in Jeddah.

The celebrations were preceded by the “Har Ghar Tiranga” campaign, during which NRIs uploaded selfies with the national flag. In addition, winners of the “Bharat Ko Janiye” quiz competition were felicitated as part of the official programmes across the Gulf.