Outgoing President A P J Abdul Kalam is hosting a series of farewell parties from July 20 to mark the completion of his eventful five-year tenure at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The mega farewell will be held on July 21 to which the entire Rashtrapati Bhavan staff, numbering about 1,500, have been invited along with their family members who will raise the total number of guests roughly to 6,000.
Officials said the function would be held at the sprawling football ground inside the Presidential estate. Dr Kalam is expected to address the gathering at the end of the high tea.

Farewell function
Outgoing Presidents in the past had invited only the senior staff of Rashtrapati Bhavan for the farewell function.
The soccer field has been chosen as the Mughal Garden lawns, the venue for “at home’’ functions on the Republic Day and the Independence Day, could accommodate only 2,500 guests, the officials said. Dr Kalam will host a farewell for the media at the Ashoka Hall on July 20, for VIPs on July 22 and a party for the Union Ministers and the President-elect on July 24. The outgoing President, who is responsible for the addition of a herbal garden, a science museum, a children’s gallery and a kitchen museum during his tenure, is set to inaugurate an art gallery later this week. The gallery will house 50 canvases and rare antiques, some of which he received as gifts.