The Mill River Park in Stamford, CT on Saturday, August 17th wore a festive look as Indian Americans gathere din large numbers to celebrate India’s 73rd Independence Day wit an annula India Festival. Dressed in colorful traditional Indian attire, with melodious music from the popular Bollywood world, dances depicting the wide variety of Indian culture, kite flying, spicy Indian cuisine, colorful booths decorated with Indian dresses and face art.
Earlier at the City Center, during the flag hoisting ceremony, Stamford Mayor David Martin proclaimed August 17th as India Day to commemorate Indian Independence when Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru raised the Indian flag at the Red Fort on August 15, 1947.
The City joined hands with the Indian Diaspora in Connecticut for a celebration organized by the Connecticut Chapter of Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO-CT) by hoisting American, Indian and Connecticut flags at the Government Center in Stamford. Mayor Martin, who was present at the flag hoisting ceremony along with Indian Consul Vipul Mesariya, and Connecticut Attorney General William Tong.
In his proclamation Mayor Martin said that the Indian Independence was marked largely by non-violent resistance and civil disobedience and the Independence Day is celebrated by the Indian Diaspora worldwide. The proclamation further noted that Stamford city will honor Indian community which is an integral part of city’s diversity, success and great future.
In her presidential address, Anita Bhat described the many flagship events the organization organizes every year. “Our mission at GOPIO-CT is to be active participants in the local community through involvement in community events and local politics, and by providing services to the Indian community at large here in Connecticut.
“The India Festival in Stamford, CT is a tribute to a strong and vibrant Indian-American community that has excelled in almost all areas of life in this adopted nation of ours,” Dr. Thomas Abraham, Founder President and chairman of GOPIO International, who is also a Trustee of GOPIO-CT, said.
The celebration sponsors are First County Bank and Wadia Associates of New Canaan. The program included remarks by the honored dignitaries, brief entertainment of music, presenting a community service award and recognizing high school graduates followed by flag hoisting. If you know any 2019 high school graduates from Connecticut School Systems,.
Independence Day Liberty Award 2019 Recipient for Service to GOPIO-CT and Community Causes was given to Pradeep Govil, who has served as a Board Member and the Executive Vice President of GOPIIO-CT for several years. Pradeep is Program Manager at the World’s largest and successful semiconductor company ASML. He has received over 21 patents and published numerous articles in international journals. Pradeep is an Adjunct Professor at Fairfield University since the early 90’s.
