India / Empire State Building, Burj Khalifa lit up in Indian Flag on I-Day

New Delhi: The Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the Adnoc Tower in Abu Dhabi were lit up with the Indian tricolour flag on August 15, in honour and celebration of India’s 74th year of independence from the British rule. The UAE displayed the Indian Flag from the world’s tallest and most famous skyscraper at approximately 8:45pm on Saturday night for a good 5-10 minutes.

The UAE is home to approximately 3,420,000 Indians, and they make up about 27% of UAE’s total population and for all these Indians in the UAE, this gesture is all the more special. Dubai also ensured that all precautionary measures were taken in lieu of Covid-19, for all those who wished to celebrate India’s 74th Independence Day. The official Burj Khalifa handle tweeted in both Arabic and English saying, “#BurjKhalifa lights up in commemoration of India’s 74th Independence Day. May the tricolour of freedom, courage and peace always prosper.”

احتفالاً بيوم الاستقلال الهندي الرابع والسبعين، نضيء #برج_خليفة بألوان العلم الهندي لنتمنى لهم دوام الرخاء والسلام والحرية#BurjKhalifa lights up in commemoration of India’s 74th Independence Day. May the tricolor of freedom, courage and peace always prosper. pic.twitter.com/Tl4APU11Ju

— Burj Khalifa (@BurjKhalifa) August 15, 2020

The Empire State Building in New York was lit up in the colours of the Indian national flag on the occasion of India's 74th Independence Day.

Under the concept of a drive-thru festival, more than 800 cars drove into a first-of-its-kind Independence Day celebration in the suburbs of Washington DC to commemorate the occasion.

People and their wheels lined up bumper to bumper to see a display of floats that gave the Indian diaspora the true essence of India packed with a punch of nostalgia. The drive-thru festival was organised by husband-wife duo Manish Sood and Deepa Shahani.

Many in the crowd held India's tricolour, dawned traditional ensemble and danced to the tunes of patriotic numbers.

Meanwhile in New York, for the first time, the Tricolour was unfurled with pride and patriotism alongside the US flag at Times Square.

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.

Over 200 Indian-Americans participated in the event to witness the tricolour soaring high and wide in the skies of New York. They chanted patriotic slogans and raised Indian flags.