India embassy in Finland holds I-Day photography contest, honours 3 winners
Synopsis
On India's 80th Independence Day, the Helsinki embassy turned the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign into a cross-cultural photography contest, while the Hong Kong consulate marked 150 years of Vande Mataram with a mass singing — two small but telling signals of how India's diplomatic missions are deepening diaspora engagement beyond ceremonial flag-hoisting.
Key Takeaways
The Embassy of India in Helsinki hosted a 'India Through My Lens' photography competition on 15 August as part of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign.
Winners Sudhanshu Verma , Baishali Acharaya , and Karina Sorsa were felicitated by Ambassador Hemant Kotalwar .
A parallel My India Story campaign invited personal stories, photos, and short videos celebrating bonds with India.
The Consulate General of India in Hong Kong and Macau hosted a flag-hoisting ceremony, marking 150 years of Vande Mataram .
Consul General Rajesh Naik read out the President's address, which highlighted India's journey and the Vikasit Bharat vision.
The Embassy of India in Helsinki, Finland, marked India's 80th Independence Day on 15 August by hosting a photography competition themed 'India Through My Lens', as part of the nationwide Har Ghar Tiranga campaign. The initiative invited participants to document their personal vision of India through the art of photography.
Competition and Winners
The contest called on participants to capture India's cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, vibrant traditions, and the spirit of its people. Ambassador Hemant Kotalwar personally felicitated the three winners — Sudhanshu Verma, Baishali Acharaya, and Karina Sorsa — during the Independence Day celebrations, presenting each with an award in recognition of their outstanding entries and creative vision.
My India Story Campaign
Alongside the photography contest, the Embassy also launched a My India Story campaign, providing a platform for individuals to share personal stories, photographs, and short videos reflecting their unique connection with India. The campaign drew enthusiastic participation, with heartfelt memories underscoring the deep emotional bonds that the Indian diaspora and friends of India maintain across generations.
Hong Kong and Macau Celebrations
Separately, the Consulate General of India in Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions (SARs) hosted a grand flag-hoisting ceremony that drew enthusiastic participation from Indian community members and friends of India. The programme opened with a special mass singing of the national song, marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, led by the Maharashtra Mandal Hong Kong.
Consul General Rajesh Naik hoisted the National Flag and read out the address to the nation by the President of India. The President's message reflected on India's freedom struggle, the sacrifices of millions of Indians, and the country's developmental journey over the past eight decades, while calling on all to participate in the vision of a Vikasit Bharat.
Cultural Performances and Diaspora Outreach
Naik commended the Indian diaspora and local partners in Hong Kong for their role in building bridges of friendship between the two regions. Cultural performances by local groups further enriched the celebration, showcasing the breadth of India's diverse heritage. Both events reflect the broader diplomatic effort to deepen India's cultural connect with its overseas communities during milestone national occasions.
Point of View
Missions that build genuine emotional and cultural bridges will matter more than those that simply read out presidential addresses. The Vikasit Bharat framing, woven into both events, also reflects a deliberate effort to align diaspora sentiment with the government's domestic development narrative.
NationPress
16 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the 'India Through My Lens' photography competition?
It was a photography contest organised by the Embassy of India in Helsinki, Finland, on 15 August, as part of the 80th Independence Day celebrations and the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign. Participants were invited to capture India's culture, landscapes, traditions, and people through their own lens.
Who won the photography competition at the India embassy in Finland?
The three winners were Sudhanshu Verma, Baishali Acharaya, and Karina Sorsa. They were felicitated by Ambassador Hemant Kotalwar during the Independence Day celebrations and received awards for their outstanding entries.
What is the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign?
Har Ghar Tiranga is a Government of India initiative encouraging citizens and the diaspora to hoist or display the national flag at their homes and institutions as a mark of patriotism, typically observed around Independence Day.
How did the India consulate in Hong Kong mark Independence Day?
The Consulate General of India in Hong Kong and Macau SARs hosted a flag-hoisting ceremony featuring a mass singing of Vande Mataram to mark its 150th anniversary, cultural performances, and a reading of the President's address to the nation by Consul General Rajesh Naik.
What is the significance of 150 years of Vande Mataram?
Vande Mataram, India's national song composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, is believed to have been written around 1875, making 2025 a milestone year marking approximately 150 years since its composition. The Hong Kong consulate's celebrations highlighted this anniversary with a special mass singing.
