Indian Ambassador Hemant Kotalwar marked the Republic Day of India in Prague with a special celebration. Drawing together Czech dignitaries and members of India's diaspora for the occasion, he unfurled India's national flag.
"On this day in 1950, our nation embarked on a journey to create a society built on the pillars of democracy, secularism, and federalism," Ambassador Kotalwar said as he addressed the audience.
As part of these festivities, Jiri Kozak — Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from the Czech Republic — served as Chief Guest.
Kozak shared a celebratory toast with the audience in a gesture of hope for unbridled progress and prosperity. "On this occasion, let us raise our glasses high in honor of a brighter future for our nations and the world. May we strive for unity, peace, and progress, and the light of hope shine ever brightly upon us. Cheers to a better tomorrow," he said.
Betka Ruckova and Neha Sheshadrinath brought together a unique performance of traditional Eastern and Western dances. To add to this spiritual experience, musicians created an awe-inspiring atmosphere with beautiful renditions of each nation's national anthem and melodic pieces of light classical music.
Libor Secka, a renowned Czech diplomat and Special Envoy for the Indo-Pacific region, also joined the gathering. "Even though India is 140 times bigger than the Czech Republic [ in terms of the population], we have a long tradition of friendly relationship & many things we can offer each other today," he tweeted on the occasion.
A sweet symbol of appreciation honoring 2023 as the International Year of Millets, guests were treated to a special dessert, the rich, creamy delicacy — Millet Firni.