In a historic first, the Indian tricolour was raised atop Seattle’s 605-feet-tall Space Needle on India’s 79th Independence Day, marking the first time a foreign nation’s flag has flown at the landmark site.
The ceremony was led by India’s Consul General in Seattle, Prakash Gupta, and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, along with dignitaries from the city’s leadership. “No greater honour than this! Raising the Tiranga on top of Seattle skyline at Space Needle,” Gupta posted on X, sharing a video of the flag soaring above the city.
The event celebrated the contributions of the Indian-American community in shaping Seattle as a tech hub in the US Pacific Northwest. Following the flag-hoisting, the Consulate hosted a reception at Kerry Park, with the Space Needle as a backdrop, attended by Indian-American community members and officials including US Congressman Adam Smith, Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Stephens, and Seattle Port Commissioner Sam Cho.
Several prominent Seattle buildings, including Lumen Stadium, T-Mobile Stadium, Westin, and the Seattle Great Wheel, were illuminated in India’s tricolours. In Tacoma, the flag was hoisted at the Tacoma Dome, City Hall, and Police and Fire Department headquarters.
The celebrations featured a vibrant cultural program with national anthems, dance performances highlighting India’s artistic diversity, and a poetic recital by acclaimed artist Piyush Mishra. King County, along with Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, and Bellevue, also issued proclamations recognizing August 15 as India Day, honouring India’s Independence Day in the Greater Seattle area.
