At stroke of midnight, on 15 August 1947, India became an independent nation. This was preceded by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s famous speech titled Tryst with destiny (* See Video of Nehru’s address) “ At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance….. We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again.” 15th August is a National holiday of India. In the capital New Delhi most of the Government Offices are lit up. Flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural programs take place in all the state capitals.

Throughout varying regions of India, there is a popular tradition of flying kites on the Independence Day. Television Channels, Radio channels, cultural centres, clubs and societies hold entertainment programmes and competitions, usually based on the freedom theme. ** Indian Independence Movement ** Independenceday Celebrations