In Pictures

Gallery|India-Pakistan Partition

India celebrates Independence Day

Indians mark the day they gained freedom from British colonial rule in 1947.

India
Illuminated North and South Blocks, Raisina Hill, on the eve of the 71st Independence Day celebration in New Delhi, India.[Ravi Choudhary/Hindustan Times/Getty Images]
Published On 15 Aug 2017

Indians have celebrated 70 years of independence with much fanfare.

The end of the British colonial rule in 1947 marked the creation of two independent states – Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan.

Independence Day, on August 15, is celebrated widely with flags hoisted in schools and colleges, and at government buildings and major landmarks.

India
Punjab police personnel take a selfie during a full-dress rehearsal of the Independence Day parade at Guru Nanak Stadium in Amritsar. [Sameer Sehgal/Hindustan Times/Getty Images]
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India
People attend a flag-hoisting ceremony during India's Independence Day celebrations in Ahmedabad. [Amit Dave/Reuters]
India
A student waves the national flag as she performs during India's Independence Day celebrations in Jammu, India. [Channi Anand/AP Photo]
India
Indian policemen march as they take part in Independence Day celebrations in Kolkata. [Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters]
India
People carry a huge national flag of India on a bridge across River Sabarmati as they celebrate Independence Day in Ahmedabad. [Ajit Solanki/AP Photo]
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Students paint themselves with the colours of the Indian flag and take selfies as they celebrate Independence Day and Dahihandi festival at a college campus in Mumbai. [Rajanish Kakade/AP Photo]
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Indian soldiers stand as schoolchildren form a representation of the national flag and the Hindi name for India, Bharat, in blue and white uniforms during a dress rehearsal for Independence Day celebrations in New Delhi. [AP Photo]