Celebrating #USIndiaDosti at the Fourth of July celebrations in Delhi

Every year, the US Embassy hosts a grand reception in Delhi on July 4 to celebrate the US Independence Day. But this year, the Independence Day celebrations were held a month later, on August 2. Officials from the embassy told us that the formal reception was held in August this time to ensure that all important guests were able to attend. “July is not a very good month for such a big event as many people are out of the country on holiday,” an embassy official told us.
A HAND OF FRIENDSHIP: Hardeep Singh Puri, MoS, Housing and Urban Development, and US Ambassador Kenneth Juster
Amjad Ali Khan
Being in India, you develop a sense of timelessness: US Ambassador Kenneth Juster
The belated date wasn’t a big deal, as US Ambassador Kenneth Juster put things in perspective in his speech. “One of the remarkable aspects of living in India is that you begin to appreciate this country’s ancient roots, where history is measured in centuries than in years. In fact, you soon develop a sense of timelessness, so celebrating July 4 on August 2 seems perfectly natural to us, and we hope you will feel that way as well,” he said. This was the first Independence Day celebration in India for Juster, who personally welcomed guests. Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Hardeep Singh Puri was the chief guest for the evening.
Shashi Tharoor
(L-R) Joanna Kempkers, High Commissioner of New Zealand, Brian McElduff, Ambassador of Ireland, and Tim Markwell, Official Residence, New Zealand High Commission
Not without my sari
The US Deputy Chief of Mission, MaryKay Carlson, is known for her love of saris and amply expresses it on social media. She even came up with a Twitter poll, #SareeSearch, last year to help her choose a sari for August 15. So for her online followers, it wasn’t surprising at all when she turned up in a white and gold Chanderi sari. Carlson told us that she was looking for a sari in white, blue and red to match the colours of the American flag, but couldn’t find any. “So I chose to pair my white and gold sari with a red khadi blouse. Now only blue is missing,” she said. Carlson also told us that she took a friend, Norine McDonald, along to select a sari for the occasion, who ended up picking a black Kanjeevaram dupatta for herself for the event.
HAVING A GOOD TIME, GENTLEMEN? (L-R) Amir Singh Pasrich, British High Commissioner Dominic Asquith and VN Dalmia
UNITED STATES OF STYLE: Norine McDonald flauntsthe Kanjeevaram dupatta she paired with her outfit
Friends in attendance
Among those who joined the celebration were Shashi Tharoor, Jatin Das and Amjad Ali Khan, who was only able to make it to the do, ironically, because his performance in Mumbai was cancelled. “I had to cancel because of poor planning by the organisers. I had to tweet about it too because my wife got messages from our friends in Mumbai asking Khan saab ki tabiyat toh theek hai,” he told us.
Naveen Jindal
(R) Serbian Ambassador Vladimir Maric with wife Jovana
Soli Sorabjee, former Attorney General of India
Dr Naresh Trehan
Shahnaz Husain with husband RK Puri