India Celebrates 66th Independence Day With Great Fervor: Report

New Delhi, Aug 16, IRNA – India on Wednesday celebrated its 66th Independence Day across the country with great fervor. In national capital Delhi, Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh addressed the nation after unfurling the National Flag from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort today morning. On arrival, the Prime Minister was received by Defense Minister A K Antony, Minister of State for Defense M M PallamRaju and Defense Secretary Shashikant Sharma. Dr. Manmohan Singh inspected the Guard of Honor. The National Flag Guard comprising 32 men and one officer each from Army, Navy, Air Force and Delhi Police presented National Salute at the time of unfurling of the National Flag by the Prime Minister. The Naval Band played National Anthem when the National Guard presents ‘National Salute’ while unfurling of the National Flag by the Prime Minister. The unfurling of the tri-colour synchronized with the 21 Gun Salute. After unfurling the National Flag, the Prime Minister addressed the nation. After the Prime Minister’s address, school children and NCC Cadets sung the National Anthem. Three thousand five hundred girl students from 40 government and government-aided schools under the Directorate of Education, National Capital Territory of Delhi sang the National Anthem. Delhiites enthusiastically turned up in large numbers to celebrate the country's 66th Independence Day. Celebrations were witnessed by leaders like Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and senior BJP leader L K Advani among other. Similar functions were held across the country. In the capitals of the state, Chief Minister of the respective state unfurled the National Flag, in some cases Governor urfurled the National Flag. People, enthusiastically turned up at the venues in large numbers to celebrate the Independence Day. Unprecedented security cover, that included tight vigil by gun-totting security personnel in and around the venues, did not dampen the spirits of the people. Except in Northeastern state of Manipur where 4 minor blasts injured 4 people, at rest of the country Independence Day celebrations passed off peacefully. On the eve of the Independence Day, President Pranab Mukherjee addressing the nation said: “It is important to remember, on Independence Day, that in the age of empires freedom was never given; it was taken. It was won by a generation of giants, led by a mighty man of destiny, Mahatma Gandhi, who fought with selfless, unflinching conviction against the mightiest power in history, with a moral force that transformed political thought and whose reverberations echo in great events all around us today. The Independence Day of India, celebrated on 15 August, is a holiday commemorating India's independence from the British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation on 15 August 1947. India achieved independence following the Indian independence movement noted for largely peaceful nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience led by the Indian National Congress. The Independence Day is a national holiday in India. The flagship event takes place in Delhi where the Prime Minister hoists the national flag at the Red Fort, followed by a nationally broadcast speech from its ramparts. The day is observed all over India with flag-hoisting ceremonies, parades and cultural events. Citizens rejoice the day by displaying the national flag on their attire, household accessories, vehicles; varied activities such as kite flying, bonding with family and friends, and enjoying patriotic songs and films are seen./end