For the first time, Indian tricolour to be hoisted at iconic Times Square in New York

Guwahati: In a historic move, a leading diaspora group in the US will hoist India's National Flag at the Times Square on August 15, which is India's Independence Day.

This will be the first time the Indian tricolour will be unfurled at the iconic New York City destination.

Notably, the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) of the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut said in a statement that it will be creating history on August 15 this year by hosting the first-ever flag hoisting ceremony at Times Square to commemorate India's Independence Day.

"It will be the first time ever that India's tricolour will be unfurled at the iconic venue in all its glory," the organisation stated.

They also announced that Consul General of India in New York Randhir Jaiswal will be the Guest of Honour at the event.

The FIA added that this year's Independence Day celebrations will include the flag-hoisting ceremony at Times Square along with the annual tradition of illuminating the Empire State Building in hues of the tricolour - orange, white and green.

The Empire State lighting ceremony will be on August 14.

The organisation added that the "Times Square flag hoisting ceremony is a testament to the Indian-American community's growing patriotism and is a fitting tribute to the FIA which is celebrating its golden jubilee year."

Established in 1970, the FIA is among the largest umbrella diaspora organisations.

Earlier on July, Ankur Vaidya was appointed as FIA Chairman, succeeding prominent Indian-American community leader Ramesh Patel who passed away due to complications from coronavirus.

Ankur Vaidya, 40, has been long associated with the FIA and was the President of the umbrella diaspora organisation for the year 2014. He is known to be the youngest member of the Board and the youngest to be chosen as its chairman.

As per reports, the Consulate General of India in New York will host a virtual Independence Day celebration on August 15 in which it has summoned "members of the Indian community and friends of India" for the commemoration that will be live-streamed.

The FIA annually organises its flagship event - the India Day Parade to mark India's Independence Day in August.

Top US political leaders, lawmakers as well as significant members of the Indian-American community and celebrities from India have joined in the annual parade that draws a crowd of thousands in the heart of Manhattan each year.

With the ongoing pandemic, this year, however, the parade will not be held due to the Covid-19 pandemic

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