Indians in Gulf countries celebrate R-Day

The Indian community in the Gulf region celebrated the 65th Republic Day with fervour.

Indians in Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia marked the day by hoisting the national flag and taking part in other activities.

India's Ambassador to Qatar Sanjiv Arora hosted the flag in Doha, while Indian schools in the country held cultural events depicting India's freedom struggle and other landmark events from the country's history.

Ambassador to Bahrain Mohan Kumar hoisted the flag at the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam in the capital Manama. The event, which featured performances by school children, was attended by hundreds of Indians.

A flag-hoisting ceremony was also held at the Indian Club in Manama, where India's first woman police officer Kiran Bedi was the chief guest.

Bedi, in her speech, highlighted India's achievements and challenges faced by the country.

At the Abu Dhabi Indian School in the UAE capital, more than 2,500 Indians, including businessmen, parents and children, all sporting patriotic attire, assembled.

Children dressed in saris and turbans sang national songs.

"I took a day off to be part of the Republic Day celebrations and encourage my son, who performed," The National daily quoted Jeanan Flanagan, a parent in Abu Dhabi, as saying.

Indians in Saudi Arabia also celebrated the day with traditional zeal and patriotic fervour, by hoisting the national flag and organising cultural events.

Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Hamid Ali Rao hoisted the national flag at the embassy premises in Riyadh and read out President Pranab Mukherjee's message. It was followed by the national anthem and patriotic songs by students of the International Indian School.

Around 250 Indians attended the ceremony.

Ambassador to Oman J.S. Mukul hoisted the flag and read out the president's address at a function at the embassy premises, attended by 250 members of the Indian community.

Students of the Indian School in Muscat sang the national anthem.