President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday hosted the customary reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of Republic Day.
The warm winter sun, which lit up the sprawling Mughal Gardens, the venue for ‘At Home,' turned out to be a treat for the denizens of Delhi who experienced bone-chilling cold wave in the earlier part of January.
Accompanied by the chief guest for this year's parade, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Ms. Patil went around, greeting the invitees.
Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar were among the dignitaries present. Congress president Sonia Gandhi was not present. The three Service Chiefs, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, Admiral Nirmal Verma and General V.K. Singh, Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh and members of the diplomatic corps attended the function.
