Indian Independence Day is celebrated annually on August 15th. India was declared a free and independent nation on this day in 1947.

The national holiday commemorates the long, hard-fought battle for liberation
against British rule which ended on August 15, 1947. The holiday also marks the
anniversary of the partition of the subcontinent into two countries, India and Pakistan.

Facts About Indian Independence:

• British rule in India began in 1757 when the English East
  India Company began exercising control over the country.
• The East India Company ruled India for 100 years prior to
  being replace by British rule.
• The Indian Independence movement began during WWI led
  by Mohandas K. Ghandi (Mahatma Gandhi). He advocated
  for a peaceful, nonviolent end to British rule.
• Jawaharlal Nehru (who became the first Prime Minister of
  India) raised the national flag above the Lahori Gate of the
  Red Fort in Delhi upon winning independence. This has
  become a cherished yearly tradition.
• Freedom fighter Pingali Venkayya designed the Indian National Flag.
• India celebrated 75 years of Independence in 2022.

Did You Know?:

• India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world with a rich cultural heritage.
• India is the largest democracy and the 7th largest country in the world. It is the second most populated country, after China.
• India has had 14 Prime Ministers and 13 Presidents out of which one each has been a female.
• India is named after the river Indus.
• India stands apart from the rest of Asia, separated by mountains and the sea. Bounded by the Himalayas in the north, it stretches southwards and at the Tropic of Cancer, tapers off into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west.
• India’s space program is among the top five space programs in the world
• India’s national animal is the tiger.

Celebrate Indian Independence Day In NYC:

You can celebrate Indian Independence Day many ways in New York City. The city is actually home to the largest India Day parade outside of India. The Parade takes place on Madison Avenue between East 24th to East 39th Street on beginning at 12 noon on Sunday August 20th.

The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) in the US will hoist its
special national flag, made of Khadi in Times Square on August
15th beginning at 10:15am. Special events and activities including a cultural and
musical extravaganza will mark the day.

The Empire State Building will also be lit up in the Tri-Color Indian Flag
colors on August 15th in the evening.