By Surender Bhutani
Warsaw, Aug 15 (IANS) The Indian community-based in the Polish capital celebrated the 72nd Independence Day on Wednesday with great patriotic fervour.
Hundreds of Indians along with their Polish friends assembled in the Indian Embassy early morning and were greeted by newly-appointed Indian Ambassador Tsewang Namgyal.
Namgyal unfurled the tricolour and joined the people there when the national anthem was played at the venue. He then read a message by President Ram Nath Kovind delivered on the eve of Independence Day.
Addressing the Indian community in Poland, Namgyal said: "You are an important bridge between the two important nations. Your hard work and your commitment speaks (for) itself."
Kirti Gahlwat, a yoga teacher sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), displayed her talent and mesmerized the audience with her remarkable asanas.
She was followed by Kathak dancer Jigna Dixit, who was also sponsored by the ICCR to promote the dance form in Poland. Dixit was joined by several Polish students.
In the afternoon, the Indian community in Warsaw organised an event displaying Indian cuisine, spices and handicraft items. At the same time, Polish girls performed on Bollywood songs and also showcased Bharat Natyam and Kathak dance forms.
"India as a soft-power has emerged in a big way in the length and breadth of Poland. There are more than 100 Indian restaurants in Warsaw alone. One can find an Indian restaurant practically on every important street in Warsaw," said J.J. Singh, President of the Indo-Polish Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
"There are more than 300 yoga centres and there are five Polish groups which organise Indian music and dance programmes regularly," he added.
