As India approaches August 15, the nation gears up to celebrate its Independence Day, a momentous occasion marking the country's freedom from British rule in 1947. The country has been under British rule for almost 200 years and got its independence on August 15, 1947. The day is designated as a national holiday, which commemorates the struggles and sacrifices made by the freedom fighters. Like every year, this year also, a common question arises: will this year mark the 77th or the 78th Independence Day? The answer lies in the nuances of how anniversaries are counted, and it’s worth clarifying for a complete understanding.

Independence Day Date

India gained independence from British rule on August 15, 1947. This date marks the end of colonial rule and the beginning of a new era for the country. Since then, every August 15 has been celebrated as Independence Day. The country’s Prime Minister hoists the tricolour national flag at the Red Fort to commemorate Independence Day every year. 15th August Independence Day 2024 Speech Ideas for Students: Indian Independence Day Speech Samples for Schools and Colleges To Celebrate the Day (Watch Videos).

Is India Celebrating 77th or 78th Independence Day 2024?

After being under British rule for nearly about 190 years, India celebrated its first Independence Day on August 15, 1947. Since then, India has celebrated the anniversary of Independence Day every year on August 15. The year of independence is considered as the starting point, and the first anniversary is celebrated one year later. Hence, following this method, this year, India celebrated its first Independence Day anniversary on August 15, 1948. This results in celebrating the 77th Independence Day anniversary this year. This means that India will complete 77 years of independence.

Moreover, the first year of Independence Day, or the first Independence Day, was observed on August 15, 1947, as it is the day when India became free. Considering this, India will be celebrating its 78th Independence Day on August 15, 2024.

The theme for this year is ‘Viksit Bharat’ which reflects the government’s vision of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047.

Thus, in short, India will be celebrating its 77th Independence anniversary and the 78th year of independence. The government has organised parades and several other programs to honour the historical journey and milestone achieved by India over the decades.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 13, 2024 02:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).