Celebrating Kashmir National Day

Kashmir Flag Hoisting Ceremony at Rochdale Town Hall with Simon Danczuk MP, Cllr Amna Mir and Cllr Surinder Biant

Members of the British Kashmir Diaspora Community celebrated Kashmir National Day today (Thursday 24 October) with a flag raising ceremony at Rochdale Town hall.

Councilor Colin Lambert raised the flag in a special ceremony. Also in attendance were Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk and MP for Heywood and Middleton, Jim Dobbin. During the ceremony, Jim Dobbin congratulated the Kashmir community on their national day.

The Kashmir Development Foundation (KDF) is a national charity working for the empowerment of the ‘Voice’ of the Kashmiri Diaspora community.

KDF are leading the campaign to celebrate Kashmir National Day every year on 24 October to advance the knowledge of the general public into the history and culture of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as preserving Kashmiri heritage in the United Kingdom.

Executive Director of KDF, Sardar Aftab Khan said: “I am thrilled that we have been successful in our campaign and a number of local authorities are formally supporting the celebration of Kashmir National day.

“I’d like to thank Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council for their tremendously positive response to our campaign and with them I hope we will reach hundreds of people. I’d also encourage charities and public and private bodies to consider partnering with us next year to make ‘Kashmir National Day’ celebrations even bigger and better.”

Councilor Aftab Hussain, coordinator of the Kashmir flag raising ceremony at Rochdale Town Hall said: “I am delighted to support and take up the request from KDF to hoist the Kashmir Flag at Rochdale Town Hall. Rochdale Council took the lead to formally agree to hoist the Kashmir flag in 2012 and will continue to support the community to celebrate Kashmir National day.”