Indian Independence Day Being Celebrated Across the World

1. Menu of 1947 Recreated at St. James Court, A Taj Hotel, London

To celebrate 70 years of India’s Independence, St. James Court, A Taj Hotel, London, and some other branches of the hotel across India are recreating the menu that was served at the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai as the night of Independence fell. The menu mostly comprises Indo-French dishes.

Priced after the year of Independence at Rs 1947, the spread will have an array of vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies, including Consomme a L’indienne” or the “Indian consomme”, “Vacherin de peches liberation” and “Poularde Souffle Independence”.

The three-course meal includes a classic French bouillon broth with chicken, flavoured with cardamom and pepper, a smoked creamy almond soup, “Delices a l’hindustan”– tamarind flavoured cottage cheese tikkas — and the souffle independence — a fluffy three-egg omelette with chicken. The hotels are also offering a 70 per cent discount to serving and retired Armed Forces personnel in India.

The country’s first Governor-General, Lord Mountbatten, bid farewell to the young country from the steps of Taj Palace in Mumbai in June 1948.

2. Kalaripayattu Event in Luxembourg

The Indian Association in Luxembourg, on the occasion of Independence Day, is showcasing the ancient martial art Kalaripayattu with an eight-member group specialising in the form. It is going to be a free event and is scheduled to be held on August 16.

Called the ‘mother of all martial arts’, Kalaripayattu originated in Kerala and can be traced back to 3,000 years. It features several animal postures and is inspired by animals such as lion, tiger, wild boar, snake, crocodile, horse and elephant.

The grace and ballet-like movements of the form set it apart from other martial art forms.

3. Free Beer at Glasgow Restaurant

The Dhabba in Merchant City, Glasgow, will unveil a new a la carte menu on Independence Day and those who buy two courses from this menu will be given a free pint of Kingfisher beer.

The Dhabba at 44 Candleriggs, along with its sister Dakhin at 89 Candleriggs, are the only two Indian restaurants in the city listed in Michelin Guide. The owner, Navdeep Basi will be introducing some of his favourite dishes from northern India in the The Dhabba’s Independence Day menu.

4. ‘Curry Me to Goa’ at Abu Dhabi

Jannah Burj Al Sarab Hotel in Abu Dhabi is organising an Indian-themed night, ‘Curry Me to Goa’ on Independence Day. Chef Hussein Rammal has designed the menu, keeping in with his strengths in Goan cuisine. Other delicacies like butter chicken, smoked fish curry, naan and fried rice will be the highlights of the menu while guests unwind amid the hotel’s Indian decor.

5. Celebrations across the US

From the Magnificent India festival in Houston on August 20 and the India Independence Day Parade in Chicago on August 19, to the India Independence Day in California’s Chatsworth on August 26, the United States is dotted with events being organised to celebrate the occasion.