The 69th Republic Day was celebrated with pomp and fervour at the ceremonial parade at the Marina Beach front here on Friday. The celebrations commenced with Governor Banwarilal Purohit hoisting the national tricolour near the Gandhi statue, who also took the salute from the contingents that smartly marched down the Kamarajar Salai. After the unfurling of the national flag and the national anthem, the Governor took the salute from the contingents of the Armed forces, paramilitary personnel, State police personnel and the bands from various schools that enthralled the audience gathered along the road to watch the grand parade led by Parade Commander Wing Commander V. Fauzdar. Then, it was time for the cultural events, when colourfully-dressed children from various schools and colleges danced to the tunes of Puthiyathor Ulagam Seivom penned by celebrated Tamil poet Bharathidasan. Artists from Thanjavur-based South Zone Cultural Centre and DIPR staged Siddhi Dhamal, Bangra, Dollu Kunitha and Karagattam dances also captured the attention of the audience. Chief Justice of Madras High Court Indira Banerjee, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, Speaker P. Dhanapal, Deputy Speaker Pollachi V. Jayaraman, Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan and Advocate General Vijay Narayan and MLAs and MPs accompanied the Governor during the cultural events. A rally of floats by various government departments explaining their role and highlighting various government schemes engaged the audience. Most of the floats displayed the images of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami. One of them also showed Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. Lieutenant General R.K. Anand, General Officer Commanding, Dakshin Bharat Area, Rear Admiral Alok Bhatnagar, Flag Officer Commanding, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Naval Area, Air Commodore Man Singh Awana, Air Officer Commanding, Tambaram Air Force Station, Inspector General Rajan Bargotra, Regional Commander, Coast Guard’s Eastern Region, DGP T.K. Rajendran, Chennai Police Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan, senior IAS and IPS officers, members of the consular corps were also present.
