Council and Indian Community Southland joined together on Thursday morning to celebrate Indian Independence Day, August 15.

Despite true Southland winter weather, there was a good turn out for the ceremony outside the Civic Administration Building.

His Worship the Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt attended the event as chief guest and was welcomed in the traditional Indian way.

The event began with a speech by Vinay Sood on Indian freedom struggles, followed by a poem written by an Indian Nobel Laureate and read by Adity Raj.

As chief guest, His Worship raised the Indian flag which, and together all attendees sang the Indian National Anthem.