The Indian community donned patriotic colors on Thursday as they celebrated the country’s 67th Independence Day, unfurling the national flag and organizing cultural events to mark the occasion.

The day started with flag-hoisting ceremonies held simultaneously at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah.

The Embassy of India at the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh saw the dawn of an eventful day when Hamid Ali Rao, Indian ambassador to Riyadh, hoisted the tri-color at the embassy premises, where a large gathering of Indian expatriates working in the Kingdom attended the ceremony. It was followed by the recital of the national anthem.

The ambassador read out Indian President Pranab Mukherjee’s address to the nation.

Rao said, “Indians have emerged as a vibrant and dynamic section of the Saudi civil society. Over the years the Indian community has earned the faith and goodwill of the host country.”

He added: “I would like to commend the members of the Indian community in the Kingdom for their constructive and proactive role in strengthening our bilateral relationship. Indian expatriates in the Kingdom contribute immensely toward the growth and development of Saudi Arabia and have been partners in the economic development of this country.”

Rao extended greetings and best wishes to all Indian expatriates residing in Saudi Arabia. He said the embassy is working to ensure that no Indian remains illegal after the grace period expires on Nov. 3.

Over the past few months the Indian Embassy and the community has been facing challenging times pertaining to ensure the welfare of its people.

“We have seen a phase of extraordinary circumstances,” Rao said.

The ambassador also commended the expansive mobilization of the Indian community particularly through the active network of over 600 non-remunerative volunteers aiding through the Nitaqat program.

The ambassador expressed hope that the Indian community would continue to be the “most preferred expatriate community” in the Kingdom for its diligence, law abiding and hard working nature.

He also expressed confidence that the Saudi-India bilateral relation will get stronger as we co-operating each other. The vibrant ambience of the Embassy within the diplomatic quarter was represented by personalities, administrators, teachers, students’ media and staff members from the Indian community.

Patriotic songs presented by students from International Indian School, Riyadh at the annual function touched the sentimental chords of those present and filled the air with patriotic fervor and gaiety and pride for their motherland.

Students were seen wearing banners that read “I love my India” and “proud to be an Indian.”

The national tricolor also fluttered proudly in Jeddah, Dammam and other cities in the Kingdom as Indians and friends of India thronged to witness the unfurling of the national flag by Indians in the region to mark India’s 67th Independence Day.

The ceremony was attended by a cross-section of the local Indian community, including Indian students in all cities.

India shares cordial relations with Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom hosts a large Indian community.

The 2.8-million-strong Indian community is the largest expatriate community in the Kingdom and probably the largest concentration of Indian passport holders anywhere in the world.

The two countries exhibit a strong bilateral relationship and share ‘Strategic Partnership’ in realm of political, economic, defense and security.