Independence Day Festival

India celebrates its independence day on 15th august every year to commemorate of becoming a sovereign nation free from the British rule. It is a national holiday celebrated with great enthusiasm and patriotism in India. The prime minister hoists the national flag at the Red fort, New Delhi and the event is followed by the singing of the national anthem.

Sovereign India and the path to Independence
A greater part of the Indian Subcontinent is occupied by the sovereign republic of India. It shares its borders with Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar. India has a several kilometers of stretched coastline and has island neighbors as Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia. It is the 2nd most populous country occupying 7th place in terms of area. It is a sovereign constitutional republic having twenty eight independent states and seven individually recognized union territories. The word INDIA originates from the river Indus. Bharat is also a constitutionally recognized name for the country India.

The last British Governor general of India, Lord Mountbatten announced the partition of India into India and Pakistan on 3rd June 1947 under the Indian Independence act 1947. There is a well known speech by Jawaharlal Nehru made on the stroke of midnight of 14th August when India became free that “ At the stroke of Midnight hour when the world sleeps, India awakes to freedom and life.”

Celebrations
The national flag is hoisted on the ramparts of Red Fort, New Delhi by the Prime Minister of India. It is a national holiday while the government offices are lit. In the capital as well as in various state capitals flag hoisting ceremony is observed followed by various cultural programs and friendly competitions. It is day to commemorate the power of Unity of the Indians which were able to drag out the British Rule which was ruling India for nearly two centuries. Flag hoisting is also observed in various private organizations including schools and colleges followed by ceremonial speeches. Family and friends greet each other with slogans like Vande Mataram or Jai Hind. Patriotic films with the theme based on Indian Independence Struggle is also broadcasted in various regional and national television channels.