Grafton will celebrate India Day with flag-raising

The Municipal Center will be flying the flag of India on August 7, honoring the 75th anniversary of the country’s independence and the immigrants who now call Grafton home.

The celebration — a first for Grafton — is on the request of the India Association of Greater Boston, which has celebrated India Day in Boston with thousands for more than 60 years.

COVID-19 changed things in 2020. IAGB pivoted to a series of smaller celebrations in 32 cities and towns and decided to add Grafton, among other communities with a significant number of residents from India.

“While we take pride in originating from our native country, India, deemed the world’s largest democracy, we are equally as proud and grateful for being able to call the United States of America our home, where democracy and personal freedom are held at utmost priority,” IAGB Director Jeyanthi Ghatraju wrote to the Select Board last month.

The Select Board will join residents at 9 a.m. on August 7 to raise the flags of both the United States and India and sing the national anthems of both countries. Social distancing protocols will be followed.

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