Ambassador joins Indian expats in Sultanate to celebrate Republic Day
Apart from the Indian embassy, colourful celebratory events were organised by Indian schools and social organisations
MUSCAT: The Indian expatriate community members celebrated their country’s 69th Republic Day on Friday throughout the Sultanate with a host of events being held to mark the occasion.
The Embassy of India organised an event at its premises in Muscat where Indra Mani Pandey, the country’s ambassador to Oman, led the celebrations by unfurling the Indian flag and addressing the community members.
Colourful celebratory events were also organised by Indian schools as well as social organisations in the Sultanate.
Students, teachers and staff of the schools, besides members of the large expatriate Indian community in Oman participated in the events with traditional patriotic fervour.
Unique effort
As part of the celebrations, Indian School Al Mabella organised a unique activity that secured them a place in the Asia Book of Records. Two hundred students from ISAM participated in conveying Indian Republic Day wishes in 22 official Indian languages in Calligraphy, in a span of 40 minutes.
The event gave the students an opportunity to better understand ‘Unity in Diversity’. Twenty-two teachers and 200 students worked over three months to achieve success in the effort.
The Chief Guest of the day, Dr. Baby Sam Samuel, Director-inCharge, ISAM and Director, Board of Directors to the Indian Schools in Oman inaugurated this event. Mahesh Kaushik and Sushma Sharma, adjudicators from the Asia Book of Records presented the provisional certificate to the Principal, P Prabakaran.
The Indian School Al Ghubra organised its celebrations on the school grounds. Dr. Mario C. De’Souza, Member, School Management Committee was the Chief Guest for the occasion. Also present was Sunil K, Convener, School Management Committee.
The programme commenced with the singing of the Indian National Anthem followed by a cultural programme which highlighted the diverse culture and tradition of India.
The students of Classes 7 and 8 presented a medley of patriotic songs which spread the aura of patriotism amongst the audience.
The poetic rendition by the students of Class 7 made the audience experience flights of patriotic fervor as they remembered the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
In a scintillating dance performance the students captured the joy, colours and energy of India leaving the audience spellbound. The celebrations ended with a prayer by the Vice-Principal, G. Sreekumar.