Kathmandu, Aug. 15: 78th Independence Day of India was celebrated at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu on  Thursday.  The celebrations began with the hoisting of the national flag by the Ambassador of India to Nepal. This was followed by the playing of the video of the address to the nation from Hon’ble President of India, Droupadi Murmu. 

The Indian President’s message highlighted the progress in various fields in the past 77 years and paid tribute to freedom fighters who laid their lives for the independence of India, according to a statement issued by the Embassy.

On the occasion, the Ambassador honored widows and next of kin of deceased Gorkha soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces by disbursing their dues worth NRs 5.50 Crore and a blanket to each. In addition, NRs 12.55 crore has been disbursed to the widows and next of kin of 107 deceased members of the Indian Armed Forces. This payment covers benefits under the Army Group Insurance (AGI) program, including death-in-service benefits, extended insurance benefits and AGI maturity payments for the year 2024.

The Embassy also announced book grants to 21 educational institutions and libraries across five provinces in Nepal. This initiative aims to promote access to educational materials for students in remote areas, in response to requests received. 

The celebrations were attended by members of the Indian community in Nepal and friends of India apart from Embassy officials and their families. The event witnessed renditions of patriotic songs and dance performances by teachers and students of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center of the Embassy and Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kathmandu.