SOURCE : THE NATIONAL

India Day celebrations set

UAE - Aug 14: Suresh Sundaram and his family are excited about joining in the celebrations for India’s 62nd independence day tomorrow, especially with the high feel-good factor following the country’s first gold medal at the Olympics.

“Being a Friday, the entire family will be able to make it to the flag-hoisting ceremony in Dubai,” said the accounts manager.

As well as the official celebrations at the embassy in the capital and the consulate in Dubai, a number of community centres and business groups plan on adding some glamour to the festivities.

In Abu Dhabi, the flag-hoisting ceremony will take place at 8am, led by Talmiz Ahmad, the Indian ambassador to the UAE. In Dubai, the ceremony will take place at the Indian High School on Oud Metha Road with the consul general, Venu Rajamony, will read parts of address by the Indian president, Pratibha Patil, to the nation.

Later, the Indian Business and Professional Council will host an Indian classical ballet performance by Hema Malini, the veteran Bollywood actress, her daughters Esha Deol and Ahana Deol, and their dance troupe. The show starts at 8pm and can be attended by council members and invited guests.

Various cultural activities commemorating the day will be held in the evening. The Kerala Social Centre in the capital will host a number of events, from 8.30pm onwards, where the cultural evening will start with a presentation on the Indian constitution.

Meanwhile, Indian labourers in Dubai plan to use their only day off to celebrate.

Ashok Kumar, a labourer living in Sonapur, which houses a number of labour camps, said he and his co-workers were planning an azadi, or freedom, meal.

“India is really doing well,” he said. “Being far from our country we feel the need to celebrate such an occasion, but never get the opportunity.

“This time, since it is a Friday, we have planned to cook a good meal and will congratulate each other after lunch.”

“We are going to celebrate by singing national songs and remembering our nation,” said Vijay Solanki, a security guard at Jebel Ali Industrial area.

Some labourers are planning a trip to the Indian Consulate in Dubai for the flag-hoisting ceremony. “It is difficult to get buses from here to the consulate,” said Mr Shaji. “However, we will try to get there, and if we do not make it then we will celebrate among ourselves.”

Sweets are likely to be distributed in the camps, and some of the labourers are organising cricket matches in local grounds.

The Facts

Etisalat is offering off-peak rate calls to Pakistan and India beginning today:

• Off-peak rate calls would be applicable to Pakistan starting from 9pm today to 7am on Saturday to mark the 62nd independence day celebrations

• The Indian independence day falls on Friday when the rates are already off-peak

• Additionally, Etisalat customers can subscribe to an initially free text news alert service, from both India and Pakistan, for a week.

To sign up, send an SMS with “INEWS” to 1110 for India, “KNEWS” to 1110 for Kerala and “PKNEWS” to 1110 for Pakistan