KATHMANDU, AUGUST 15

The Embassy of India in Nepal celebrated India's 78th Independence Day today at its premises in Kathmandu.

The event began with the hoisting of the national flag by the Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, followed by a video message from Indian President Droupadi Murmu. In her address, the President highlighted India's progress over the past 77 years and paid tribute to the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for India's independence.

During the ceremony, the Ambassador honored the widows and next of kin of deceased Gorkha soldiers from the Indian Armed Forces, disbursing Rs 5.50 crore in dues along with a blanket for each. Additionally, Rs 12.55 crore was distributed to the families of 107 deceased Indian Armed Forces members. These payments included benefits from the Army Group Insurance (AGI) program, covering death-in-service, extended insurance, and AGI maturity payments for 2024, as per the embassy's statement.

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

The celebration was attended by members of the Indian community in Nepal, friends of India, and Embassy officials and their families. The program featured patriotic songs and dance performances by teachers and students of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center and Kendriya Vidyalaya in Kathmandu. The event was live-streamed on the Mission's social media platforms.