India celebrates 77th Independence Day |16 August 2023

The flag raising ceremony

India celebrated its 77th Independence Day yesterday, August 15, 2023. This year, the theme is 'Nation First, Always First' under the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebration.

The day honours the struggle for freedom, the freedom fighters who lost their lives and the sacrifices made by great Indian leaders to achieve Independence.

To mark this occasion, the Indian high commissioner (HC) to Seychelles, Kartik Pande, invited Indian nationals and friends of India for a flag hoisting ceremony at the Palais des Sports at Roche Caiman yesterday morning.

HC Pande had the honour to hoist the national flag and delivered his address where he highlighted India's achievements since Independence, in fields such as IT, pharmaceuticals and space.

He also spoke of India's renewed focus on self-reliance 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' while simultaneously occupying a substantive role at the international fora.

HC Pande concluded his address by underscoring the growing bilateral cooperation between India and Seychelles as well as the role of Indian diaspora in strengthening India-Seychelles relationship.

In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the event at Red Fort and the event marked the culmination of the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations, which were initiated by the Prime Minister in 2021.

Vidya Gappy

Photos: Louis Toussaint