School students perform to a song much to the joy of thousands of spectators, who braved the morning chill to be at the function.
Credit: DH photo/B K Janardhan
Bengaluru: The Field Marshal Manekshaw parade ground transformed into a kaleidoscope of saffron, white and green as Bengaluru celebrated the 77th Republic Day with traditional fervour.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot unfurled the Tricolour, followed by rendition of the national anthem.
Accompanying him were Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar.
While the crowd-favourite ‘Tornado’ bike stunts were notably absent this year due to scheduling constraints, the 37 contingents comprising over 1,100 personnel delivered a display of discipline.
A unique highlight was the inclusion of the Tamil Nadu police platoon, symbolising inter-state camaraderie, and the dog squad.
The march-past featured the Army, Air Force and an all-women police unit, followed by a vibrant cultural showcase, where 1,400 schoolchildren danced to patriotic songs.
The parade ground turned into a cultural extravaganza as 650 children from BCCW Composite College, Herohalli, presented a vibrant tribute to harvest festival ‘Makara Sankranti’.
The performance titled ‘The Joy of Makara Sankranti’ depicted the transition of the sun into capricorn, symbolising the shift from darkness to light. Students mimed the sharing of Ellu-Bella (sesame and jaggery), a reminder of Karnataka’s culture of harmony.
Another performance by 750 students from government high school, Bagalagunte, titled ‘Unification of India and New India’, took the audience on a historical journey.
The performance vividly portrayed the efforts of Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and V P Menon in unifying the 500 princely states, including a dramatic representation of ‘Operation Polo’ that brought Hyderabad into the Indian fold.
Transitioning to the present, the children showcased the evolution of the Constitution and the state government’s ‘five guarantee schemes,’ framing them as modern tools for equality and social justice.
Despite the stringent security and early morning traffic diversions, the spirit among the over 2,000 spectators remained high. Sharp-eyed spectators pointed out that the main official welcome board still bore the BBMP acronym instead of the newly formed GBA.
“I’ve been coming here since I was a boy,” said Anantha Krishna, a retired bank official.
“The bike stunts were missed, but seeing the discipline of the cadets during march past was the real highlight for me today”.
Suhasini M, a college student, said, “It’s inspiring to see the patriotism in kids, many of whom have arrived here as early as 6 in the morning chill, hats off to their energy and perfomance”.
Security was at tight, crossing the line into inconvenience, many said.
A strict ban on black clothing, meant to prevent black-flag protests, left many shivering in the morning chill.
Shyla, an elderly attendee, was forced to remove her black sweater at the gate.
“I wore a black sweater, and they made me take it off. In this cold weather, it doesn’t make sense to leave,” she lamented.
Other spectators complained about the lack of a cloakroom, forcing those with prohibited items to either discard them or head back home.