ICJ celebrates Independence Day with patriotic fervor

[gallery size="medium" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" td_gallery_title_input="ICJ celebrates Independence Day with patriotic fervor" ids="77895,77893,77896,77894"] By Abdul Rahman M. Baig Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – To celebrate the 70th Indian Independence day, Indian Community of Jeddah (ICJ), a consortium of various Indian organizations hosted an informal party in a local restaurant here. The organizing team of the event said that since no official event is conducted on Aug. 15 by the Indian community at large so there was a strong need to have a function to celebrate the occasion with gaiety and patriotic fervor. Various organizations of Jeddah come together under one umbrella glorifying the unity in diversity. The concept of event was decided two days back and henceforth it was organized on a small scale. Consul (Consular) Anand Kumar agreed to be the chief guest of the event. The program began with a few patriotic songs sung by Imtiaz and Waseem Muqaddam. Songs like Meray Desh ki Dharti and “Aisa desh hey mera” echoed the patriotic sentiments of the audience. The musical tune of “I love my India” impelled the tsunami of patriotic beats in the hearts of everyone present in the hall. A quiz competition on Indian freedom struggle and Indian independence movement was conducted. Winners were handed over the gift hampers sponsored by Dawaa Medical Company (Consumer Division). Community members from different states of India gathered to celebrate the 70th Indian Independence day. Most of the community members who attended the party came in their traditional dress belonging to their state and this gave an elevated dimension to the jubilation. Community members from Tamil Sangam were much appreciated with their Dhoti and Kurtas. Speaking to Saudi Gazette, Anand Kumar said, “I feel very happy to see our Indian community having so much love and affection towards their country India. I was told this afternoon that only around 35 people have confirmed to attend tonight’s function due to short notice. But when I came here I have seen more than what I have expected which is around 70-75 people. This shows their love and affection towards India. We in the consulate premises are trying to help the labors who did not get their salaries and we appreciate the support of Indian community of Jeddah for their overwhelming support in this hour of need.” Majority of the community members were happy to attend the event and they all echoed that it is for the first time people from all the states of India joined together to celebrate the Indian Independence day here. Truly it is a fine beginning of a new era for our scattered Diaspora in Jeddah to continue our social work jointly to raise our national pride to a new height. All of them were of the hope that next year it will be organized at a grand level. The coming together of different Indian organizations on one single platform showed how Indians have unity in diversity despite having different languages, religions, dance, music, architecture, food, and customs The Indian culture is often labeled as an amalgamation of several cultures, spans across the Indian subcontinent and has been influenced by a history that is several millennia old. The function ended up with the Indian National Anthem followed by delicious dinner. Indian Community Jeddah (ICJ) has been actively working for the last two months in helping the workers, who did not get their salaries from their respective companies, by going to their camps and providing them with food. Also recently ICJ hosted a welcome reception of the new Indian Ambassador and Consul General. All the attendees were given gift hampers presented by Himani Navratna Oil and Dawaa Medical Co.