Governors, senators, and members of the US House of Representatives joined the Indian-American community in Seattle to mark India's 80th Independence Day on 15 August 2026, underscoring the deepening ties between New Delhi and Washington. The Consulate General of India in Seattle coordinated celebrations that drew official participation from across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Official Proclamations and State Recognition

The states of Washington and Nebraska issued formal proclamations declaring 15 August 2026 as 'India Day'. The governors of Washington, South Dakota, Montana, and Alaska sent greetings ahead of the flag-hoisting ceremony. The mayors of Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, and SeaTac, along with the King County Council — which covers 39 cities in the Greater Seattle area — also issued proclamations honouring Indian Americans as innovators, entrepreneurs, educators, artists, and professionals.

What US Leaders Said

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte praised the community's contributions to his state's cultural, educational, and economic life. 'Your commitment to innovation, learning, and community enriches all of us,' he said.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy said his state was proud of its Indian and Indian-American residents. 'Your contributions to our economy, our school, our healthcare system, our businesses, and our communities makes Alaska a stronger place,' Dunleavy said, adding congratulations to the Consulate and all those celebrating.

South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden said: 'May the friendship between our people continue to grow stronger in the years ahead.'

US Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington said India's achievements continued to inspire communities worldwide and extended appreciation to the Consulate and the Indian-American community. Congressman Adam Smith described the bilateral relationship as 'increasingly important', calling India and the US 'two of the most important countries in the world, working together to try to create a more peaceful, prosperous, and stable society.' He also praised the Puget Sound region's Indian-American community for its work in education, government, business, innovation, and technology.

Congresswoman Kim Schrier described Washington's Indian-American community as central to the state's educational, cultural, and economic life. Congressman Dusty Johnson of South Dakota said the world was stronger because India was 'a stable, forward-looking, growing, and increasingly prosperous country,' and noted that America was stronger because of its more than five million Indian Americans and its relationship with India.

Congressman Michael Baumgartner, who visited India last year, framed the relationship in a broader security context. 'I think the peace and stability of the world really rests in part on good, solid relations between America and India, as the world's two largest democracies and two countries with different diversities and multiple religions,' he said. Representatives Suzan DelBene and Marilyn Strickland also sent messages, with DelBene highlighting the community's contribution to regional innovation and Strickland praising India's commitment to learning and community.

Cultural Highlights

The Consulate General of India in Seattle released a special rendition of 'Vande Mataram', performed by Grammy Award-winning violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan and students of the Swara Yoga Ensemble, filmed at the Consulate premises.

The Flag-Hoisting Ceremony

The flag-hoisting ceremony is scheduled atop the Federal Reserve Building in Seattle, with US officials and Indian-American community leaders expected to attend. This comes a year after Seattle marked India's Independence Day by raising the Tiranga atop the iconic Space Needle. India has observed 15 August as Independence Day since gaining freedom from British colonial rule in 1947. The 80th anniversary has drawn notably broad participation from elected American officials, reflecting what analysts describe as a maturing strategic and people-to-people partnership between the two democracies.