The Indian Independence Day celebrations reached its pinnacle on Saturday morning at the iconic Times Square in New York City.

For the 1st time, the tricolour was unfurled with pride & patriotism alongside the US flag at Times Square. Over 200 Indian Americans participated in the event to witness the tricolour soaring high & wide in the skies of New York. They chanted patriotic slogans & raised Indian flags.

A Participant said that "We have gathered here for our 74th Independence Day. It is an honour & privileged to host it here & make history for our motherland for all the diaspora around the world".

The flag was hoisted at the iconic venue by Consul General of India in New York, Randhir Jaiswal, who was the Guest of Honour at the event.

Jaiswal told the news agency that "Unfurling the Indian tricolour is a matter of great honour anywhere at any time. Today being August 15, & in this times square, the historic place is a matter of even greater pride. I am so honoured so humbled so privileged to be doing so".

Alok Kumar, Ex-President of the Federation of Indian Association (FIA), the organisers of the event told the news agency that the event was organised keeping in mind COVID-19 pandemic & precautions were taking like maintaining social distancing.

He said that "So many people have come to participate even in this testing COVID-19 times. But We are maintaining social distancing".

"This is a historic event as the first time in the history we are hosting tricolour here. For mother India, we are always together," he added.

The Independence Day celebrations mark a new chapter in the Indian American diasporas history.

Not just the Times Square, the FIA also carried out its annual tradition of illuminating the Empire State Building in tricolours - orange, white & green - to mark India's Independence Day.

The FIA annually organises its flagship event - the India Day Parade to mark India's Independence Day in Aug. But this year, due to the COVID-19, New York City cancelled all public gatherings which were on a large in scale until Sept. That's when the idea of celebrating Independence Day at Times Square occurred to the Indian Americans.

Year after year the annual parade sees top US political leaders, lawmakers, as well as prominent members of the Indian-American community & celebrities from India participating, that draws a crowd of thousands in the heart of Manhattan. 

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