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Independence Day (India)
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<p>Independence Day is celebrated annually on 15 August as a <a href="/facts/Public_holidays_in_India/AnFtnbHA">public holiday in India</a> commemorating the nation's <a href="/facts/Indian_independence_movement/0n35LRk8">independence from the United Kingdom</a> on 15 August 1947. On this day the <a href="/facts/Indian_Independence_Act_1947/SuHGUeAu">Indian Independence Act 1947</a> came into effect, transferring legislative sovereignty to the <a href="/facts/Indian_Constituent_Assembly/5nepBn6U">Indian Constituent Assembly</a>. India attained independence following the <a href="/facts/Indian_independence_movement/0n35LRk8">independence movement</a> noted for largely <a href="/facts/Nonviolent_resistance/uz9JRtkN">non-violent resistance</a> and <a href="/facts/Civil_disobedience/jaNFkCLY">civil disobedience</a> led by <a href="/facts/Indian_National_Congress/Im1gQksb">Indian National Congress</a> under the leadership of <a href="/facts/Mahatma_Gandhi/epTj0j19">Mahatma Gandhi</a>. </p><p>Independence coincided with the <a href="/facts/Partition_of_India/c8xmUWfG">partition of India</a>, in which <a href="/facts/British_Raj/hBe6wvPS">British India</a> was divided into the <a href="/facts/Dominion_of_India/slRebax7">Dominions of India</a> and <a href="/facts/Dominion_of_Pakistan/wxKwlwEk">Pakistan</a>; the partition was accompanied by violent riots and mass casualties. On 15 August 1947, the first <a href="/facts/Prime_Minister_of_India/htYDwX0a">Prime Minister of India</a>, <a href="/facts/Jawaharlal_Nehru/et3I8NGT">Jawaharlal Nehru</a> raised the <a href="/facts/Flag_of_India/8UVdNp3p">Indian national flag</a> above the <a href="/facts/Lahori_Gate_(Red_Fort)/ptIW0vok">Lahori Gate</a> of the <a href="/facts/Red_Fort/H6clto9Q">Red Fort</a> in <a href="/facts/Delhi/Xa6CKgnf">Delhi</a>. On each subsequent Independence Day, the incumbent Prime Minister customarily raises the flag and gives an address to the nation. The entire event is broadcast by <a href="/facts/Doordarshan/RSplRqhp">Doordarshan</a>, India's national broadcaster, and usually begins with the <a href="/facts/Shehnai/nVs7r4X9">shehnai</a> music of <a href="/facts/Ustad_Bismillah_Khan/5S3rw9El">Ustad Bismillah Khan</a>. Independence Day is observed throughout India with flag-hoisting ceremonies, parades and cultural events. It is a national holiday in the country. </p>