TN celebrates R-Day with fervour

A spectacular Republic Day parade was held at the Marina Beach on Tuesday that witnessed march pasts by contingents of the Indian Armed Forces and cultural programmes by students.

The 67th Republic Day was celebrated with fervour in Tamil Nadu with Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and Governor K Rosaiah presiding over the parade. Rosaiah hoisted the national flag, as a Chetak helicopter belonging to the Indian Air Force showered rose petals near the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Marina beach stretch. The Governor took the salute at an impressive march-past by contingents of the Armed forces, Navy, scouts and guides and the Chief Minister presented the annual awards to police personnel and civilians. Cultural programmes by students clad in colourful attire and floats put up by various departments were presented on the occasion. 

Several Tableaux by the defence forces, including that of Battle Tank Bhishma T-90s, Ajeya Tank, a replica of Indian Naval Ship Chennai, similar to INS Shivalik, were displayed in the parade. Jayalalithaa presented the Gandhi Adigal Awards, Anna Gallantry Medals and Kottai Ameer Award for communal harmony to various recipients. Two of those who received the gallantry medals were Nagapattinam-based K Rishi who saved three children and Mohd Yunus who rescued many during the floods that devastated Chennai in December last year. Earlier, Rosaiah visited the Victory War Memorial and paid homage to martyred soldiers.