Gurugram celebrates I-Day with parade, folk dances and flag-hoisting

Krishan Lal Middha unfurled the national flag at Tau Devi Lal Stadium, while seven contingents led by Abhilaksh Joshi took part in the parade.

Published on: Aug 15, 2026, 22:58:18 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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Gurugram celebrated the 80th Independence Day on Saturday with a district-level flag-hoisting ceremony at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium, ceremonial parade and cultural performances, with officials and residents highlighting patriotism, development and self-reliance.

Haryana Deputy Speaker Dr Krishan Lal Middha takes the salute of the parade during the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Tau Devi Lal Stadium on Saturday. (Parveen Kumar/HT)

Haryana assembly deputy speaker Krishan Lal Middha unfurled the national flag, inspected the parade and paid a floral tribute at the Veer and Shaheed Smarak. Seven contingents led by assistant commissioner of police Abhilaksh Joshi took part in the parade, including Gurugram Police, women police, traffic police, home guards, NCC senior boys, student police cadets and Prajatantra ke Prahari. The traffic police contingent secured first position, followed by the women police and Prajatantra ke Prahari contingents.

ACP Abhilaksh Joshi commanded the parade during the 80th Independence Day celebration in Tau Devi Lal Stadium on Saturday. (Parveen Kumar/HT)

Students from several schools presented cultural programmes, including “Vande Mataram” performance by Pranavananda International School, Sector 92, Krishna Leela by PM Shri Government Senior Secondary School, Arjun Nagar, and Punjabi, Rajasthani and Haryanvi folk dances by students from government schools. A women’s empowerment presentation by Blue Bells School, Sector 4, along with laser and dumbbell shows, was also staged.

Independence Day was also marked at the sub-divisional level in Sohna, Pataudi, Manesar and Badshahpur, where legislators Tejpal Tanwar, Bimla Chaudhary, Mukesh Sharma and Satish Phagna unfurled the national flag, respectively. In Sohna, Tanwar said the occasion should inspire people to contribute towards building a developed Haryana and India.

Flag-hoisting events were also held at societies, RWAs and private offices. DLF’s “Freedom Run” began from Club5 at 8.15am and ended at the newly inaugurated DLF Summit Plaza, with at least 1,000 residents participating alongside a flash mob and recreational activities.

Students perform cultural dance during the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Tau Devi Lal Stadium on Saturday. (Parveen Kumar/HT)

At the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT), celebrations focused on technological self-reliance. ICAT director Saurabh Dalela called for greater investment in advanced technology, innovation and research and development, while HR head Colonel Sudhir Chaudhary spoke about discipline, leadership, duty and national service. Separately, ICAT also launched its annual ‘I-Khel’ sports competition, running from August 15 to January 26.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More

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