Kathmandu, 15 August 2024 - The 78th Independence Day of India was celebrated with great fervor at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu today.

The celebrations commenced with the hoisting of the Indian national flag by His Excellency, the Ambassador of India to Nepal. This was followed by the playing of a video address to the nation by Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu. In her message, the President highlighted the progress made in various fields over the past 77 years and paid tribute to the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for India’s independence.

On this occasion, the Ambassador honored the widows and next of kin of deceased Gorkha soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces by distributing dues amounting to NPR 5.50 crore along with a blanket to each. Additionally, NPR 12.55 crore was disbursed to the widows and next of kin of 107 deceased members of the Indian Armed Forces. This payment included benefits under the Army Group Insurance (AGI) program, covering death-in-service benefits, extended insurance, and AGI maturity payments for the year 2024.

The Embassy also announced a book grant to 21 educational institutions and libraries across five provinces in Nepal. This initiative aims to enhance access to educational materials for students in remote areas, responding to the requests received.

The 78th Independence Day celebrations were attended by members of the Indian community in Nepal, friends of India, Embassy officials, and their families. The event featured performances of patriotic songs and dances by teachers and students of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center of the Embassy and Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kathmandu.

Today's event was live-streamed on the Embassy's social media handles.