Indian Independence Day celebrations got off to a colourful start in Wellington on Saturday morning with Indian Wellingtonians turning up in colourful traditional attire.

The event was hosted by Acting High Commissioner of India in New Zealand, His Excellency Kunal Roy, at India House in Lower Hutt.

The celebrations were well attended with Indians of all ages participating in the proceedings.

H.E. The Acting High Commissoner hoisted the Indian national flag followed by singing of the national anthem. He then passed on the Independence Day message from the President of India, Smt Pratibha Patil, to the gathering. The ceremony concluded with the singing of Vande Mataram.

Light refreshments were served to the guests.

“The special solidarity and the feeling of 'one-ness' when the flag was hoisted and the national anthem was sung, and the message of peace and unity by the President, read by His Excellency Shri Kunal Roy, are the things that stood out for me,” said Wellington resident Raga D’silva who covered the event for Indian Weekender and took photographs.

“I particularly remembered the words ‘mazhab nahi sikata aapas mein bair rakhna’ that were read out – and could not help wishing that it became a slogan of the world today.”