Hundreds of Indian Americans gathered Monday this week in downtown Aurora to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence.
Aurora’s One Aurora Plaza was draped in the national colors of orange, white, and green as young and old came together for the historic occasion of raising India’s flag for the first time in the State’s second-largest city.
Aurora Ward 10 alderwoman Shweta Baid, the first Indian American elected to public office in Aurora, was joined by students as they did the honor of hoisting the flag.
The ceremony opened with both the American National Anthem and the Indian National Anthem, followed by a series of remarks by dignitaries and an exceptional Bharathanatyam Indian classical dance performance by Ananya Saraswati, a student at the Acharya Performing Arts Academy in Aurora.
Awards were presented to youth trailblazers and adult community leaders to commemorate the special occasion.
The Indian American community is Aurora’s fastest-growing population.
—City of Aurora government