Indian Embassy in Cairo Celebrates 73rd Independence Day

The Indian Embassy in Cairo celebrates the 73rd anniversary of India`s Independence day.

A flag-raising ceremony will be held at 8:30 am at the home of the Ambassador of India in Zamalek on Thursday, 15 August.

The ceremony is scheduled to be attended by members of the Indian expatriates in Egypt, the media and the press.

Independence Day is annually celebrated on 15 August, as a national holiday in India, commemorating the nation's independence from the United Kingdom on 15 August 1947.

The UK Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act 1947 transferring legislative sovereignty to the Indian Constituent Assembly.

India still retained King George VI as head of state until its transition to the full republican constitution.

The country attained independence following the Independence Movement noted for largely nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience led by the Indian National Congress (INC).

Independence coincided with the partition of India, in which British India was pided along religious lines into the Dominions of India and Pakistan; the partition was accompanied by violent riots and mass casualties, and the displacement of nearly 15 million people due to religious violence.

On 15 August 1947, the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru raised the Indian national flag above the Lahori Gate of the Red Fort in Delhi. On each subsequent Independence Day, the incumbent Prime Minister customarily raises the flag and gives an address to the nation.