Under a canopy of tricolour flags and echoing chants of Jai Hind, the Mata Amritanandamayi Math in Amritapuri guided by spiritual leader and humanitarian Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma), celebrated India’s 80th Independence Day with profound patriotic fervour and spiritual solemnity.

The celebrations brought together a diverse gathering, bridging civic duty and spiritual community. Personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Kerala Police stood alongside local residents, students, and ashram monastics to commemorate the milestone anniversary of the nation’s freedom.

The highlight of the morning ceremony was the unfurling of the national flag by senior monk Swami Shubhamritananda Puri. Addressing the gathering, Swami focused on the bedrock values that sustain the world’s largest democracy.

“National integration is not merely a political construct, but a living spiritual reality,” Swami Subhamritananda Puri told the attentive crowd. He drew deep reflections on the relentless sacrifices of the freedom fighters who braved immense hardships to unshackle the country, urging the younger generations to safeguard unity amidst diversity.

The air vibrated with collective resonance as participants joined voices to sing Vandemataram and the national anthem, followed by rousing cries of Jai Hind that echoed across the coastal ashram grounds.

True to the tradition of public service and universal brotherhood championed by Amma’s acclaimed NGO network, the formal proceedings concluded with the joyous distribution of sweets to all participants, blending civic pride with the sweetness of shared community.