India’s 69th Independence Day is right around the corner. Almost all apartment complexes across India celebrate this day. A couple of weeks back we had written a blog on Top 10 Ideas for Independence Day celebrations in your apartment complex. We hope your apartment complex’s cultural committees found it useful, and had helped them in their Independence Day celebration planning. We wish you a Happy Independence Day in advance and hope you have a lot of fun in the celebrations planned in your apartment complex.
Apart from participating in the various events that your apartment’s cultural committee are arranging for the common celebrations in your apartment complex, you can also spend some quality time with your family and close neighbours and make this day extra special for them, by planning to celebrate the day in your apartment too. Below are some ideas on celebrating Independence Day at home:
- Decorate your apartment
There are various decorations related to Independence Day which you can buy from the market or also easily make at home. Use them to decorate your door, balcony, windows and house interiors. These items may include small paper flags, ribbons in the national colours, balloons, etc. It is awesome fun to gather your family together and spending time decorating the house. It is also a great idea to have your own flag hoisting in your apartment with your family, by unfolding or hoisting a flag from your balcony.
- Play patriotic songs
There are many patriotic songs which have inspired us over time, some of which were a part of Indian Independence movement, and some of which are Bollywood and other regional movie songs. Create a playlist of such songs and play them in your apartment. The songs will motivate you and also enthral you with their beautiful lyrics and tune throughout the day.
Here’s a few songs which will help you start building your playlist. “Sare Jahaan Se Acha”, “Vande Mataram” (there are several versions, the original is awesome by itself, then there is a Bollywood version by Lata Mangeshkar, there is also a version by A R Rahman), “Ai mere watan ke logo”,”Ye desh hai veer jawanon kaa”,”Mere desh ki dharti”, “Bharat humko subse pyara hain”, ”Kandho se milte kandhe”,”Rang de Basanti”.
- See the Independence Day telecast from New Delhi
Indian Independence day celebration in our national capital is telecast live throughout the country. Our Honourable Prime Minister does the flag hoisting followed by military demonstration and cultural parade. It is always an awesome experience to gather your family and watch the program together in your apartment.
- Get some India themed posters for your apartment
Presently we rarely have posters of our national heroes in our apartments. Maybe this Independence Day you should get some posters on Indian themes and portraits of Indian heroes and put them on your walls.
- Eat only Indian food
We live in a globalized world today and our food palette is a mash of food which has originated from all over the world. 
Why not do a fun experiment this Independence Day and try to stay away from all food which might not have an origin in India. For example: You can’t have bread, pasta, chocolates, noodles, burgers, packaged food and juices, etc. Don’t have ice cream or pastries for a day and have dahi or jamun instead!
- Invite your neighbours for a potluck party
You can cook and also ask your neighbours to cook ethnic food and have a potluck party in your apartment. It’s a great way to get to eat good, tasty, variety food, on the Independence Day and also to have a fun hangout between friends and neighbours.
- Contribute to the country by doing a bit for the society
Though many apartment complexes have started taking many social initiatives and helping out the needy, you, on your individual capacity can also contribute for the betterment of the society. Take your family and visit an orphanage or old age home and spend some time there. You can also make monetary contributions to these institutions. There are many NGOs who are doing admirable social work across India. This Independence Day you can plan to visit some NGO and try to contribute in any way you can.
- Movies
Plan a movie marathon this Independence day and enjoy back to back shows of patriotic movies. 
You can gather you family and also call in friends and neighbours for the movie show in your apartment. There are many classic movies which have inspired audiences throughout ages like Shaheed, Mother India, Gandhi, Purab aur Pashchim. And then there are several newer movies like Gadar, Border, Lakshya, Swadesh, Rang de Basanti, Prahaar, Sarfarosh, Lagaan, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, Netaji Subhash – The Forgotten Hero, A Wednesday, Mission Kashmir, Roja, Sardar. There are multiple awesome regional movies also which are worth watching.
- Read Books
When you get time for yourself, why don’t you pick up a book on India and brush up your memory on Indian History? Or this Independence Day why don’t you try buying and reading some books written on India. There some brilliant books written on Indian Independence struggle like India’s Struggle for Independence and History of Modern India by Bipin Chandra, Freedom at Midnight by Dominique Lapierre, etc. There are also many books on India post-Independence like India Unbound by Gurcharan Das. There are several other books which has been written on emerging India like Mission India by Late APJ Abdul Kalam which are also good reads.
- Time for Kids
If you have kids at home then Independence Day is the best time to talk to them about India’s civilization, kings and emperors, our culture and our freedom struggle. There are several children’s books on such topics. For example, comics from Amar Chitra Katha which have books on Indian Mythology, Indian Freedom Struggle and also on various famous Indian Leaders. You can buy such books for your kids for kindling the national spirit inside them.
How do you like the ideas? Please let us know in the comments section below. If you have any other idea for celebrating Independence Day in your apartment or apartment complex, which you want to share with us and other readers then do drop us a comment below.
You can share this blog in your apartment’s ADDA and let other neighbours know these great ways to celebrate Independence Day in their apartments. ADDA is great way to connect with your neighbours and is an essential app for all apartment residents. Join your apartment’s ADDA today. If your Apartment complex / housing society is still not online on ADDA, you can create one absolutely free on www.apartmentadda.com and start communicating with your fellow apartment owners.
Indian Flag Rangoli Picture Credit – Ashika, Oasis Breeze
