A day to come together & celebrate our shared love for India

Sowmya Raju | NT

Bengaluru: Independence Day is a time for people from all walks of life to come together and celebrate the freedom that we enjoy as citizens of India.

It is a day to remember sacrifices made by our freedom fighters and to recommit ourselves to the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity. But Independence Day is more than just a day for flag-waving and speeches.

It is an opportunity for people from different religions to come together and celebrate the wonderful occasion. India is a country with a diverse range of religions, each with its own festivals.

There are gover nment holidays for most of these major festivals. One person from Bengaluru who was celebrating Independence Day with people in his locality said, "I am Hindu, so when I celebrate Diwali, it is just an extra holiday for my Muslim friends. I just chill at home on Ramzan when my Muslim friends are celebrating. Independence Day is the one day we all come together, celebrate, share sweets and food, talk, and catch up."

He also added that although it is a day to remember our heroes, for him it is a day when he realises that even though we worship at different places, we are all the same.

In contrast to other religious festivals, where only people from those religions participate, Independence Day is a day when everyone comes together to celebrate.

This is because Independence Day is a secular holiday, which means that it is not associated with any particular religion. This makes it a day when people from all walks of life can come together and celebrate their shared love for India.

In many places around Bengaluru, people were seen worshipping Bharat Mata in various religious ceremonies. In a celebration organised by an auto drivers' group, a Hindu priest performed puja with camphor and flowers, while a Christian priest offered prayers.

They then hoisted the flag and sang the national anthem in a show of respect for their country. There are many other ways for people from different religions to come together and celebrate Independence Day.

For example, some communities hold cultural events that showcase the different cultures that makeup India. These events are a great way to learn about different religions and celebrate the diversity of India.

Independence Day is a reminder that we are all Indians, regardless of our religion. We are all united by our common love for our country and our shared desire to see it prosper.