Saudi Arabia: Indians mark Independence Day

Jeddah: Some thousands of NRIs across the gulf region on Monday proudly celebrated 76th Independence Day, with tricolour fluttering high, and distributing cakes and sweets.
The commemorating Independence Day and flag hoisting are customary at Indian missions, however, the display of the tricolour has assumed significance this year after the Indian government launched the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign.
Numerous patriotic Indian workers engaged at different work sites have celebrated the event. In the early morning hours, several NRIs thronged Indian missions by leaving their work aside to commemorate Independence Day and reverberating the national anthem.
In Saudi Arabia, which houses the second highest number of Indians, celebrated Independence Day with enthusiasm and joy, with DCM N. Ram Prasad hoisting the national flag and paying floral tributes to the father of the nation.
Some labour accommodations and work sites where Indian workers resided marked the event with zeal. The Indian employees working on a key infrastructure project in Ras Al Khair, a seashore town in Eastern Province, among others celebrated Indian Independence Day.
“We were delighted to celebrate 15 August,” said Laxminarayana Chari, NRI from Telangana who works at the project site.