Kalon Tripa Dr. Lobsang Sangay raises the Indian flag on 15 August - Photo from Phayul.com
The 15th of August commemorates India’s independence from British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation. This day is observed all over India, in every school and college, with flag-raising ceremonies, parades, and cultural events.
The Tibetan people never lag in giving full support to the Indian government, because in this 21st century we know how it is to live without sovereignty. So to mark this very special day, every Tibetan school in India celebrates it with a holiday and performs cultural shows to thank the Indian government and its citizens for their hospitality.
Our Kalon Tripa, Dr. Lobsang Sangay, observed India’s 65th Independence Day at the CTA headquarters in Dharamsala, raising the Indian national flag in the presence of senior CTA officials and singing the Indian national anthem at a function at the Kashag Secretariat.
Tibetans are “eternally grateful to the Indian government and the great people of India,” said Dr. Sangay, thanking them for being “tremendously kind and supportive” of Tibetans in exile for more than 50 years.
Following the ceremony, the Kalon Tripa attended the official Independence Day celebrations at the Police Ground, in Lower Dharamsala where a function was organized by members of the civil society. Ladoos (Indian sweets) were distributed against a backdrop of Tibetan and Indian cultural performances and speeches by local Indian heads of government.
Likewise, at McLeod Ganj’s TCV Day school, many students wore traditional dress and performed traditional songs and dances to portray our rich traditions to the public in attendance.
Tibetans in exile joyously celebrated the 65th independence day of our host country, concluding the festivities with many promises, resolutions, and hopes for the future.
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