15th August, 1947 is celebrated as the Independence Day in India, commemorating India’s independence from the British occupation and its birth as a sovereign nation. India achieved independence following over 250 years of Mughal rule and 200 years of British rule. It was on this day when India was sworn in as an independent country with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as the first prime minister. The official ceremony was held at Redfort, Delhi. It was a birth of a new nation and a new beginning and since then, Independence Day in India is celebrated every year on this day in honor of the birthday of the nation. The independence coincided with the partition of India wherein India was divided into 2 new nations along religious lines – Dominion of India (later Republic of India) and Dominion of Pakistan (later Islamic Republic of Pakistan).
Live Webcast
Live Webcast of the 66th Independence Day ceremony of India on 15th August, 2012. Flag Hoisting by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Dr.Manmohan Singh. Source – National Informatics Centre
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“Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we will redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance…. We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again.”
– Jawaharlal Nehru (Speech on Indian Independence Day, 1947)
The Independence Day is a national holiday in India. The flagship event takes place in Delhi where the Prime Minister of India hoists the national flag at the Red Fort. The day is observed all over India with flag-hoisting ceremonies, parades and cultural events. Independence Day is a day when people in India pay tributes to their leaders who sacrificed their valuable lives for the freedom of their country. This day is a moment of pride and glory all over India and is celebrated with great enthusiasm. It is observed as the National holiday on which the schools, banks and government and private offices remain closed. The day is observed all over India with flag-hoisting ceremonies, parades, gunshots and amazing cultural performances and music. Citizens enjoy the day by displaying the national flag on their clothes, household accessories, vehicles followed by various other activities such as kite flying, bonding with family and friends, and enjoying patriotic songs and films. Even the Television Channels and Radio programmes are surcharged with patriotism. Films based on patriotic themes are telecast to let the people and children know about the various incidents of our freedom struggle to inspire love for our motherland. Newspapers too print special editions relating inspirational stories of great men chosen from great books written by the great men. On this day many political leaders appear at the public events and talk about the nation’s heritage, laws, history, and people and about recent events and future projects.
Independence Day, thus, is an important day in the life of every Indian. Year after year, it reminds us of the great sacrifice and struggle made by our freedom fighters to free Mother India from the British rule. It reminds us of the great ideals which were the foundation of the dream of a free India, featured and realized by the founding fathers. It also reminds us that our forefathers have done their share of duty. The onus is on us on how to shape the future of our country. The country now looks up to us so that we may do our part now. It is our duty to safeguard the independence of our country by our unity and integrity.