The iconic Times Square, reverberating with the chants of “Vande Mataram” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai“, was on Sunday drenched in the hues of saffron, white and green as the biggest Indian tricolor was unfurled at the popular New York City destination to mark the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence Day.
Leading organization of Indian-origin people in the US, the Federation of Indian Associations – New York, New Jersey and Connecticut (FIA-NY NJ CT) hosted a special ceremony at Times Square to celebrate India’s 75th Independence Day.
The FIA had hoisted India’s National Flag at Times Square on the country’s Independence Day last year, the first time the Indian tricolor was unfurled at the iconic New York City destination.
This year, marking 75 years of India’s independence, it hoisted the biggest tricolor unfurled at Times Square so far.
FIA Chairman Ankur Vaidya congratulated and extended Independence Day greetings to everyone.
“We want to continue this tradition. This year, we are hoisting the biggest tricolour unfurled at Times Square so far,” Vaidya told PTI.
The 48 square feet-long tricolor was unfurled at the 25-feet tall flagpole.
Patriotic Indian songs reverberated through Times Square, the crossroads of the world, as members of the Indian-origin community gathered in large numbers for the commemoration.
Consul General of India in New York Randhir Jaiswal unfurled the tricolor.
A special guest at the event was Indian-American sporting icon Abhimanyu Mishra, 12, the youngest grandmaster in chess history.
“Today is a very special day, a historic day in India’s onward march as a nation. Today is the day to celebrate our achievements, successes, our freedom struggle, all the sacrifices done by the leaders and also to chart out our future course of action,” Indian diplomat Mr. Jaiswal said.
Mr. Jaiswal said the day is also to “celebrate our vibrant democracy and its progress and prosperity,” adding that “let us celebrate Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav today and in the days to come.”
Anil Bansal, current President of FIA, said India is launching year-long celebrations from August 2021 to celebrate 75 years of Independence and the FIA also started the celebrations on August 15, 2021, by flag hoisting at Times Square and at the State Capital in Rhode Island.
Mr. Bansal congratulated the people of Indian-origin, who made very significant contributions during the pandemic all over the world.
“On this special day, we salute the visionaries of modern India for giving us today, a thriving multicultural country and contribution to the entire world,” Bansal said.
