West Bengal celebrates Republic Day with patriotic fervour

Kolkata  :  West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi unfurled the Tricolour and took the ceremonial salute as the state celebrated 70thRepublic Day on Saturday.

Amidst stringent security, Tripathi also inspected a guard of honour and raised the national flag with the national anthem "Jana Gana Mana" reverberating across the arterial Indira Gandhi Sarani to signal the start of a colourful march-past.

A helicopter hovered above spraying petals, as units from the Army, Navy and Air Force took part in the customary parade displaying sophisticated arms and weapons like the Mechanised Infantry Combat vehicle and the Brahmos Supersonic Cruise missile.

Models of the battleship INS Kolkata and the Apache helicopter were also exhibited in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Assembly Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay, ministers, bureaucrats, police officers and members of the diplomatic corps.

Several contingents of Kolkata and West Bengal Police, Border Security Force, traffic sergeants, fire brigade and NCC cadets participated in the parade.

Students of south Kolkata's South Point High School got all round applause for their smart demeanour.

Folk artists from various districts and the Chhau dancers of Purulia brought the rear of the parade.

Earlier, in a tweet Banerjee called for cherishing the 'idea of India' for which the freedom fighters had laid down their lives to end colonial rule.

"Our people and our great institutions must strive to remain "independent", in the true sense of the word, she said.

The national flag was also hoisted at the various government offices across the state to mark the day.