This post is long overdue, so I apologize.
"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…India discovers herself again."
- Jawaharlal Nehru
(on Indian Independence Day, 1947)
(on Indian Independence Day, 1947)
Taken from :: IndoBase
After more than two hundred years of British rule, India finally won backs its freedom on 15th August, 1947. All the patriotic hearts rejoiced at seeing India becoming a sovereign nation and the triumph of hundreds and thousands of martyred souls. It was a birth of a new nation and a new beginning. The only fact that marred the happiness of the fruits by the blood of martyrs was the fact that the country was divided into India and Pakistan and the violent communal riots took away a number of lives. It was on the eve of 15th of August, 1947 that India tricolor flag was unfurled by Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, on the ramparts the Red Fort of Delhi.
The day is celebrated to commemorate the birth of the world's biggest democracy as a national holiday. Schools and people hoist the national flag through out the country and put them up on the rooftops and the buildings. People only go to offices to attend the flag hoisting ceremony. The Prime Minister addresses the Nation after the flag has been unfurled recounting the country's achievements of the year, discussing current major issues and future plans for the progress of the country. Recently, kite-flying has become a tradition on this day and people can be seen flying numerous kites of all colors, sizes and shapes symbolizing the freedom.
We were not up to taking the kids to central Delhi to take part in the festitvities (although Marina DID) and made the decision that because of the ages of our littles, we would just have to bypass taking part of any of the celebration.
On our way home from a rather sterile visit to a mall, we were tickled to realize that much of the heart of the celebration is often seen only when you choose to look UP.
happy Independence Day, India!
