A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
The Indian community in the UAE celebrated India's 78th Independence Day with great enthusiasm. Flag-hoisting ceremonies, cultural programmes, and community outreach initiatives marked the day.
Indian Ambassador to the UAE Sunjay Sudhir hoisted the tricoloured Indian national flag at the premises of the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi. He was joined by the active members of the Indian community living in the UAE.
A host of cultural performances highlighting Indian culture and heritage were organised on the occasion. The Indian ambassador felicitated the volunteers who have been working for the welfare of the community.
In Dubai, Consul General Satish Sivan hoisted the flag at the premises of the Indian Consulate. Hundreds of Indians participated in the ceremony. The consul general paid floral tributes to the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi and addressed the gathering after the flag-hoisting ceremony.
The Indian Consul-General also participated in a separate Independence Day celebration organised at the premises of a private company.
Over 300 workers of the company took part in the celebration.
Later, healthy check-ups and financial literacy lessons were organised for the workers. In the run-up to Independence Day, Indian missions in the UAE organised several social activities.
A blood donation campaign was organised with over 130 participants at Latifa Hospital in Dubai. Deputy Consul General Yatin Patel participated in the event. In Abu Dhabi, an art workshop was organised to commemorate the day. With the help of instructions, two participants - Rajkumar Pandey and Pappu Bhat - converted the blank canvases into magnificent pieces of art.
The top two Indian diplomats in the UAE hailed the budding India-UAE relations during their speeches on the occasion. They cited recent achievements such as the setting up of the Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi's branch - and the opening of the Indian Central Board for Secondary Education office in Abu Dhabi.