Kathmandu: India’s 80th Independence Day was celebrated at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu on August 15, with participation from members of the Indian community, friends of India in Nepal, Embassy officials and their families.
The celebrations began with the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’, followed by the hoisting of the Indian national flag by the Ambassador of India to Nepal and the singing of the national anthem. The gathering also watched the address to the nation by Indian President Droupadi Murmu on the eve of Independence Day.
On the occasion, the Ambassador honoured the widows and next of kin of 11 deceased personnel of the Indian Armed Forces and handed over Army Group Insurance Fund (AGIF) cheques worth a total of NPR 8.2 crore.
The Embassy also felicitated winners of various competitions organized to mark the 80th Independence Day, including a ‘Viksit Bharat’ painting competition, Viksit Bharat Run and inter-school quiz competition. Winners of a special edition of the Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz were also honoured.
As part of the celebrations, the Embassy announced a book grant for 22 educational institutions and libraries across seven provinces of Nepal, aimed at improving access to educational resources.
The celebrations also featured cultural performances and patriotic songs presented by teachers and students of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre of the Embassy. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from the Indian community and friends of India in Nepal.
