The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu celebrated the 78th anniversary of India’s Independence on Thursday with a flag-hoisting ceremony and cultural performances. Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, raised the Indian flag during the event.
“Nepal and India share a special and unique relationship, unparalleled globally. This bond is rooted in the cultural and religious connections between the people of our two countries. We have consistently worked to deepen and strengthen this relationship based on these shared values,” Ambassador Srivastava said in his address.
During the event, the Ambassador honored widows and next of kin of deceased Gorkha soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces, distributing dues totaling Rs 55m and presenting each recipient with a blanket. Additionally, Rs 125.5m was disbursed to the families of 107 deceased members of the Indian Armed Forces. This payment covered benefits under the Army Group Insurance (AGI) program, including death-in-service benefits, extended insurance benefits, and AGI maturity payments for 2024, according to a press release from the Embassy of India.
The Embassy also announced book grants to 21 educational institutions and libraries across five provinces in Nepal. This initiative aims to improve access to educational materials for students in remote areas in response to specific requests.
The celebrations featured patriotic songs and dances performed by teachers and students from the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre of the Embassy and the Kendriya Vidyalaya School in Kathmandu.
