Indians across the globe today celebrated the country's 65th Republic Day with patriotic fervour, unfurling the tricolour and holding cultural events to mark the occasion.
Unfurling the National Flag at a function at the Indian Embassy, new Indian Ambassador to Beijing Ashok K Kantha said India and China are set to pursue an "ambitious agenda" utilising strategic openings and will address "unresolved issues in a purposeful manner with a sense of urgency".
Kantha, who took over as the ambassador here this month, later read out President Pranab Mukherjee's Republic Day speech and addressed the Indians, who turned out in large numbers, about the "carefully developed multi-faceted partnership with China".
The cultural section of the Indian Embassy presented a performance in which several Chinese students also participated.
In the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, Indian Consul General K Nagaraj Naidu hoisted the tricolour at a ceremony at his residence this morning and read out the President's address to the nation.
The ceremony was attended by a large number of the local Indian community members, including students, a press release from the Consulate said.
In Southeast Asia too, the tricolour fluttered proudly as envoys unfurled the flag and read out the President's address to scores of expatriate Indians, ethnic Indians and India lovers gathered at Indian Embassy premises.
In Bangkok, India's new Ambassador to Thailand Harsh Vardhan Shringla unfurled the national flag.
School children and Indian women's club members sang patriotic songs in front of over 100 assembled guests gathered at the Embassy.
The patriotic fervour of the Indians was evident as many would have had to take alternate routes to arrive at the Embassy as the main intersection nearby has been blocked by Thailand's anti-government protesters for several days now.
The Indian flag was hoisted in all the neighbouring ASEAN nations by envoys this morning.
Over 1,000 Indians in Singapore joined High Commissioner Vijay Thakur Singh in the Republic Day celebrations.
The day was marked by unfurling the National Flag and signing of the National Anthem as well as patriotic songs by students from Indian schools in Singapore.
Singh read out the President's address to the gathering, which included migrant workers from India and Singapore-based Indian community.
The High Commissioner also hosted a reception for guests at the commission.
