Tricolour Hoisted Atop Seattle’s Iconic 605-Feet-Tall Space Needle In ‘A Historic First’: WATCH

<p>In a history-making moment, the Indian Tricolour was hoisted at Seattle&rsquo;s iconic 605-foot-tall Space Needle on the occasion of India&rsquo;s 79th Independence Day. This is the first time the Tricolour has flown over the city&rsquo;s most recognizable landmark, a structure built in 1962 for the World Fair and long seen as a symbol of innovation and the Pacific Northwest&rsquo;s future.</p>
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-media-max-width=”560″>
<p dir=”ltr” lang=”en”>VIDEO | In a history-making moment, the Indian Tricolor was hoisted at Seattle&rsquo;s iconic 605 feet tall Space Needle on the occasion of India’s Independence Day. <a href=”https://twitter.com/IndiainSeattle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@IndiainSeattle</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/PrakashMEA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@PrakashMEA</a><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndependenceDay2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#IndependenceDay2025</a><br /><br />(Source: Consulate General of India in Seattle) <a href=”https://t.co/6SBdB2yWlL”>pic.twitter.com/6SBdB2yWlL</a></p>
&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href=”https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1956600499333124140?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>August 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>
<script src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” async=”” charset=”utf-8″></script>
</p>
<h2>Leaders Join in Celebration</h2>
<p>The event was led by the Consul General of India in Seattle, joined by Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and members of the city&rsquo;s leadership. In a joint statement, officials acknowledged the vital role of the Indian American community in shaping Seattle&rsquo;s rise as a leading technology hub in the United States.</p>
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-media-max-width=”560″>
<p dir=”ltr” lang=”en”>United States | The Indian flag was raised on top of the Space Needle today in honour of India&rsquo;s 79th Independence Day celebrations. <br /><br />Consul General of India in Seattle, along with the Mayor of Seattle, Bruce Harrell, and other select dignitaries from Seattle city leadership,&hellip; <a href=”https://t.co/O8iLdLOqSr”>pic.twitter.com/O8iLdLOqSr</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href=”https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1956589192961577143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>August 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>
<script src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” async=”” charset=”utf-8″></script>
</p>
<p>To mark the milestone, the Consulate also hosted a community reception at Kerry Park, a scenic viewpoint overlooking downtown Seattle and the Space Needle. With the Indian flag waving high in the backdrop, hundreds of Indian Americans gathered to witness what many described as a once-in-a-lifetime sight.</p>
<h2>US Dignitaries Mark the Occasion</h2>
<p>The reception drew several prominent US dignitaries, including Congressman Adam Smith (WA-9), Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra L. Stephens, Seattle Port Commissioner Sam Cho, and AP Diaz, Superintendent of Seattle Parks &amp; Recreation. Addressing the gathering, Rep. Smith hailed the hoisting of the Tricolour as a symbol of the region&rsquo;s diversity and the deepening bonds between India and the Pacific Northwest.</p>
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-media-max-width=”560″>
<p dir=”ltr” lang=”en”>A historic first in Seattle!<br /><br />India&rsquo;s tricolour soars the Seattle skyline<br /><br />Happy 79th Independence Day of India<a href=”https://twitter.com/IndianEmbassyUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@IndianEmbassyUS</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/MEAIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@MEAIndia</a><a href=”https://twitter.com/AmbVMKwatra?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@AmbVMKwatra</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/IndianDiplomacy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@IndianDiplomacy</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@DrSJaishankar</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/PMOIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@PMOIndia</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarGharTiranga2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#HarGharTiranga2025</a><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarGharTiranga?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#HarGharTiranga</a> <a href=”https://t.co/LUOVBoARjh”>pic.twitter.com/LUOVBoARjh</a></p>
&mdash; India In Seattle (@IndiainSeattle) <a href=”https://twitter.com/IndiainSeattle/status/1956573174705094948?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>August 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>
<script src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” async=”” charset=”utf-8″></script>
</p>
<p>The celebrations were marked by a rich cultural showcase featuring the national anthems, classical and contemporary dance performances, and a stirring poetic recital by acclaimed artist and actor Piyush Mishra.</p>
<h2>August 15 Declared &ldquo;India Day&rdquo; in Seattle Region</h2>
<p>In a special tribute, King County and the cities of Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, and Bellevue issued proclamations officially designating August 15 as India Day. Meanwhile, some of Seattle&rsquo;s most iconic landmarks&mdash;including Lumen Field, T-Mobile Park, the Westin Hotel, the Seattle Great Wheel, and the Space Needle&mdash;were illuminated in the saffron, white, and green of India&rsquo;s national flag.</p>
<p>The Indian flag was also proudly hoisted at the Tacoma Dome, Tacoma City Hall, and the headquarters of the Tacoma Police and Fire Departments, underscoring the region&rsquo;s embrace of the occasion.</p>
<h2>Strengthening India&ndash;US Ties in the Northwest</h2>
<p>India, which opened its sixth US consulate in Seattle in November 2023, has steadily strengthened ties with the Pacific Northwest. Thursday&rsquo;s celebration, crowned by the flag atop the Space Needle, underscored both the growing presence of the Indian diaspora and the enduring friendship between India and the United States.</p>