INDIA'S 80TH INDEPENDENCE DAY

A Celebration to Remember

The 80th Independence Day of India was celebrated at the Consulate General of India in Jeddah in the presence of H.E. Mr. Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri, Consul General of India.

The ceremony began with the Indian National Anthem, followed by the hoisting of the Indian flag by the Consul General, marking the beginning of the official celebrations.

In his address to the gathering, H.E. Mr. Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri highlighted important achievements and initiatives connected with the Consulate and the Indian community, including the recognition received for the quality of the organization of the Indian Haj missions.

He also expressed his desire for the Indian community to share ideas that could contribute towards improving the quality of life.

During the programme, the Consul General also launched the Swachhata Abhiyan initiative, representing community participation in maintaining cleanliness and a healthy environment.

Capt. Mir Shakeel UrRahman and Capt. Amal Ahmed were among those attending the celebration, enjoying the national occasion alongside fellow members of the community — unaware that the programme would soon bring them a completely unexpected surprise.

COMMUNITY & CELEBRATION

The Spirit of Celebration

Beyond the formal ceremony and the unexpected award, the 80th Independence Day celebrations were also a vibrant gathering of people, families, friends and members of the Indian community in Jeddah.

The Consulate grounds were filled with the colours of India, with tricolour decorations creating a festive atmosphere as people gathered together to celebrate the nation's historic Independence Day.

For Capt. Mir Shakeel UrRahman and Capt. Amal Ahmed, the occasion became an opportunity to meet and reconnect with members of the community, friends and fellow participants from different walks of life.

Throughout the celebration, there were warm greetings, conversations, photographs and memorable encounters — reflecting the strong sense of community that brings people together during important national occasions.

The couple were especially happy to meet many familiar faces and to share moments with members of the Indian community, preserving the occasion through photographs and personal memories that went far beyond the official programme.

The photographs also capture some of the spontaneous moments that followed the recognition ceremony, with Capt. Mir Shakeel UrRahman and Capt. Amal Ahmed holding the award and certificate while continuing to share the occasion with those around them. The constant requests for photographs made these moments a lively and memorable continuation of the celebrations.

Surrounded by the colours of the Indian flag and the energy of the gathering, the celebration reflected something important: Independence Day is not only a national ceremony, but also a moment when people come together to celebrate identity, heritage, friendship and community.

For the travelling couple, these moments with people became another meaningful part of the day — a reminder that their journey has always been about more than travelling from one place to another. It is also about meeting people, building friendships and sharing experiences wherever the road takes them.

OFFICIAL HOST

The Consulate General of India, Jeddah

The celebration of India's 80th Independence Day in Jeddah was hosted by the Consulate General of India, bringing together members of the Indian community, Consulate officials, guests and friends for an important national occasion.

The Consulate premises became the setting for a programme that reflected both the official significance of Independence Day and the many ways in which the Indian community continues to come together in Saudi Arabia.

The occasion also highlighted national initiatives connected with the celebrations, including the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, while cultural activities and community participation added to the spirit of the day.

For Capt. Mir Shakeel UrRahman and Capt. Amal Ahmed, being present at the Consulate was particularly meaningful. Their participation connected their own My India, My Story journey with a wider celebration of India, its people and its national identity.

The photographs from the day preserve the formal setting of the Consulate celebration — including the gathering around the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi — and provide a record of an occasion shared by members of the Indian community in Jeddah.

As an institution serving the Indian community in the western region of Saudi Arabia, the Consulate General of India, Jeddah continues to provide an important connection between India and its citizens living abroad, while also creating opportunities for community engagement and national celebrations.

🎥 ▶ Watch Official Consulate Reel

EMBASSY CONNECTION

India Through Our Lens

While Capt. Mir Shakeel UrRahman and Capt. Amal Ahmed were celebrating India's 80th Independence Day in Jeddah, their journey was also represented during the Independence Day celebrations at the Embassy of India in Riyadh.

The celebrations began with the hoisting of the Indian Tricolour by H.E. Mr. Vipul, Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, followed by the National Anthem and the official Independence Day programme.

During the celebrations, a series of short videos featuring selected content creators and influencers was shown to the guests gathered at the Embassy. Among them was a video featuring Capt. Mir Shakeel UrRahman and Capt. Amal Ahmed, sharing their own perspective and connection with India.

For the travelling couple, seeing their video presented to the audience gathered at the Embassy was especially meaningful. Although they were physically attending the Independence Day celebrations in Jeddah, their message and perspective about India were also reaching the audience in Riyadh.

The connection became even more meaningful when Mr. Vipul Bawa, First Secretary at the Embassy of India in Riyadh, personally forwarded the original Embassy Instagram link to the couple. He also congratulated them on receiving First Prize in the Independence Day competition, awarded to them by the Consulate General of India in Jeddah.

This created a unique connection between two cities — celebrating India in Jeddah while, at the same time, becoming part of the Independence Day visual programme at the Embassy of India in Riyadh.

The moment became another meaningful chapter in their continuing journey of sharing their experiences, travels and perspective about India with people in both India and Saudi Arabia.

🎥 ▶ Watch Official Embassy Reel