Who of us does not have a secret love affair with fantastic Indian fare? The sour but fruity tang of kokum, the bitter nutty taste of mustard seeds and the distinctive aniseed flavour of fennel seed. Throughout Australian, as throughout the world, Indian food has made its mark and established an ever-devoted fan base.
India's Independence Day
This month sees the celebration of India's Independence Day on August 15th. Reason enough to relax, celebrate & go fly A kite!
India's Independence Day is a colourful, vibrant and celebrated occasion. In cities throughout India, the tricolours of dark saffron, white and green will splash out from every corner while the sky is sure to be dotted with hundreds of kites in a kaleidoscope of colours
History Of India
Each year at this time India celebrates its freedom from over 200 years of British rule. At the stroke of midnight, as India moved into August 15th, 1947 Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, read out the famous speech "A Tryst with Destiny" proclaiming India's Independence with the famous lines.
The day is marked with cultural activities: The main event is conducted in the capital city of New Delhi where the Prime Minister of India unfurls the flag and receives a salutation of 21 guns before addressing the nation with his speech paying tribute to all the people who sacrificed their lives for the nation's independence.
One of the great spectacles of the day can be found in the air. Though nobody knows when or how it started, there is a tradition of flying kites on Independence Day. You will see the sky dotted with hundreds of these colourful objects and children and adults alike take part in raucous competitions.
Indian Food
Of course, no celebration is complete without food and Indians love their food! Aromatic spices are undoubtedly the secret to authentic Indian cooking but Indian cuisine varies significantly from region to region reflecting an ethnically diverse assortment of dishes and cooking techniques.
Many Indians have adopted the practice of making cakes and sweets in the shape and colours of the national flag. The most common of these is Gulab Jamun, a kind of waffle ball. It's made of dough soaked in sugar syrup flavoured with cardamom seeds and rosewater. These sugary sweet delights are often exchanged and given as an offering between neighbours and friends.
Local Celebrations
For a bit of festivity to celebrate this wonderful day here in Australia, head to Sydney Olympic Park in Homebush. The United Indian Associations will be hosting the India Australia Friendship Fair on 15th of August to celebrate the Indian Independence Day. The fair provides an excellent opportunity to meet people and immerse yourself in culture with plenty of entertainment for the whole family including Bollywood dancing complete with colourful costumes and music.
For this festival to fit the bill, in true Indian style fashion, food stalls will be providing a diverse range of delightful Indian cuisine and there will also be a raffle draw featuring prizes such as return air tickets to India. The highlight of this year's event will be a performance by the singing sensation Mikka Singh, rocking the show with famous Bollywood and Bhangra numbers.
If you're not a Sydney local don't fret, local Indian Societies around the country always host various activities for this special day and you'll be promised a good time with food and entertainment.
India's Independence Day in Australia is as much about celebrating freedom as multiculturalism. This is a day where people from all cultures come together and Australia's diverse ethnicities.
Fascinating Facts About India
- On India's Independence Day, August 15, 1947 the country was split into India and Pakistan. The partition displaced 1.27 million people and resulted in a high death toll.
- India never invaded any country in her last 100 000 years of history.
- Most Indians rinse their hands, legs, and face before eating a meal. It is considered polite to eat with the right hand.
- Chess was invented in India.
- In India the fold and colour of clothing are viewed as important markers of social classification. Additionally, women can be viewed as either a prostitute or a holy person depending on the manner in which she parts her hair.
- India is the world's largest, oldest, continuous civilization.
- India has the largest number of post offices in the world.
- The largest employer in the world is the Indian Railways, employing over a million people.
- The Taj Mahal in India was built over a period of 11 years (1632-1643).
- The name 'India' is derived from the River Indus, the valleys around which were the home of the early settlers. The Aryan worshippers referred to the river Indus as the Sindhu.
- Diamonds were discovered first in Golconda riverbeds region more than 4,000 years ago.
