The Armed Forces, including the Chandigarh Traffic Police, Indo-Tibetan Police Force, NCC wings of the Navy and the Army, attired in their battle regalia, made a proud display of their strength.

Also, the first batch of the women wing of the Chandigarh Police, participated in the parade, after a two-month-long training.

While the entire administrative machinery of the UT was present to witness the march past, newly-elected Mayor Kamlesh, was conspicuous by her absence.

Mehra, while greeting the residents, said one should value the freedom that comes with a republic and not take it for granted.

Referring to the cosmopolitan culture of the city, he said, “Chandigarh has been weaving its own success story by making great strides in different fields. The city wears its traits of social justice, safe and secure environment and providing equal opportunities, with pride.”

Various tableaux spread the message of maintaining calm during emergency situations.

The prize for the best tableau, meanwhile, was awarded to the Indian Red Cross Society, which had disaster management as its theme.

State honours were, meanwhile, conferred upon many people, including Class V student Urvi Manocha for her contribution in the field of art and dance and Dr Amit Bhattacharya, the mental trainer of Abhinav Bindra .

Applause for tableau of the Chandigarh Traffic Police
The tableau of the Chandigarh Traffic Police drew maximum applause and also had the audience in splits. It showed a police officer arguing with Sub-Inspector Poonam Dilawari for not issuing him a challan.

Congressmen busy unfurling flags
Union Minister of State for Finance Pawan Kumar Bansal and President of Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee B B Bahl attended the Republic day celebrations in various parts of the city. Bahl unfurled the National Flag at Congress Bhawan, Sector 35. Others present on the occasion were Ram Pal Sharma, Mayor Kamlesh, ex-Mayors Pardeep Chhabra and Lalit Joshi, Harmohinder Singh Lucky, Senior Deputy Mayor Harphool Chand Kalyan, councillors and other senior leaders of the party. Bahl said that the party has always worked to uplift the downtrodden. Bansal addressed the youth congress workers meeting in Sector 19, where he welcomed 200 youth congress workers led by Vice-President CTYC Rajeev Moudgil and attended by President CTYC H S Lucky and President of District Youth Congress Ajay Sharma. Meanwhile, over 300 persons joined the SC/ST cell of the CTYC. Ajit Singh Gill has been appointed as the Chairman and a 31-member committee has been formed.

BSP convener urges people to vote in LS polls
BSP Convener Harmohan Dhawan unfurled the national flag in Sector 52, 56, Industrial Area Phase I and Bapu Dham in separate functions on the occasion of Republic Day. Dhawan urged people to come out of their houses and vote in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Schools across the city celebrated the 60th Republic Day with great fervour and pride on Monday.

Saint Soldier International School: Students and staff of the school celebrated the 60th Republic Day with great enthusiasm on the school premises. Chairman of the school Gurdev Singh Hayer unfurled the tricolour. A cultural programme comprising poems, songs and skits was held to mark the occasion. Principal of the school, Sudesh Choudhary addressed the students and told them to remember the sacrifices of martyrs and inculcate love for the country.

Stepping Stones Senior Secondary School: Principal of the school, Anu Kumar, hoisted the National Flag, while the students of senior school performed dances to mark the occasion. The school choir presented patriotic songs.

Vivek High School: The school observed the Republic Day with great patriotic fervour. The celebration started with a march past by the students of the senior wing students followed by a Flag hoisting ceremony and the National Anthem. Speeches on freedom fighters were also delivered.

S D Public School: Patriotic songs and poems marked the celebrations while the principal of the school Manju Bharadwaj, hoisted the tricolour.

AKSIPS School, Sector 41: The principal of the school Jagjit Sekhon highlighted the importance of the day and the National Flag was hoisted by the executive director of AKSIPS Group of Schools, Jasdeep Kalra.

Shivalik Public School: Republic Day celebrations were held in the school on Saturday. The students presented a cultural programme to mark the occasion. The students took a pledge to take the nation to great heights with hardwork and sincerity.

DAV Senior Secondary School, Sec 8: The flag was hoisted by the principal of the school Dr Vibha Ray, who urged the students to uphold the values and principles for which our freedom fighters had laid down their lives.

St Kabir Public School: Republic Day was celebrated with great zeal and patriotic fervour at St Kabir Public school. Students presented a cultural programme and speeches to mark the occasion. J P Singh, the director of the school said that our country has always made us proud and encouraged the children to keep alive their love for the nation.

Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School: Inspiring speeches filled with love for the nation echoed on the school premises. The unfurling of the tricolour was followed by a march past display by the contingents of the school.

Government Model Senior
Secondary School (Girls), Sector 18: Gaiety and fervor marked the celebrations. The principal, Anujit Kaur, hoisted the flag. A series of cultural items were also presented.

Kendriya Vidyalya, AFS High Grounds: The National Flag was unfurled by the chief guest, Station Commander, Air Force Station High Grounds. Gp Capt R K S Shera. Speech on the importance of the historic day was followed by a cultural programme on the theme.

GMSSS, Sector 35: Principal of the school, Raviraj Kaur, unfurled the National Flag. Students presented a brief cultural programme. In her speech, the principal asked the students to be good citizens and sincere in their duties towards the society in general.

Aanchal International School: Republic Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm at the school. Principal Dr Tarsem Lal unfurled the National Flag. The day was dedicated to the memory of the Mumbai victims and the security personnel who valiantly fought and sacrificed their lives on 26/11.

Government College, Sector 11: Republic Day was celebrated with zeal and fervour in Government College, Sector-11, on Monday. The Principal, staff and students of the college assembled together to unfurl the tricolour. Principal of the college, Dr A L Gauba, urged the students to fight against social evils like corruption, dowry, female foeticide and terrorism. He exhorted the students to even inculcate the spirit of patriotism in all earnestness. A cultural program was presented by the students of the music department. The monthly news letter (RIPPLES) was also released on the occasion.

Panjab University: Guard of honour, patriotic songs, dances, theme-based programmes creating social awareness, distribution of sweets and snacks formed part of Republic Day celebrations at the Panjab University Campus on Monday. Vice-Chancellor of PU, Prof R C Sobti hoisted the national flag. He was also felicitated by the university for being selected for the Padma Shri award. Prof Sobti emphasised on the need to take higher education to the doorstep of people. He said that the University had recently set up a Regional Centre at Nathuwala in Moga district of Punjab. He motivated the gathering to take an oath to make the campus academically and socially vibrant and free from pollution, garbage and violence.

PGI: Professor K K Talwar, Director, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, PGIMER, unfurled the tricolour during the 60th Republic Day celebrations at the hospital on Monday. Referring to international links that have been established between the PGI and institutions in Brunei, Germany, Romania, Oman, UK, Canada, Austria and USA, he said the number of extramural projects have increased from 88 in 2007 to 130 in 2009. He further expressed gratitude towards various NGOs, Rotary Club, philanthropists and the media, for helping the poor patients.

Senior Citizen’s Welfare Association: Republic Day was celebrated by organising a variety of items including fancy dress, magic show and programmes spreading the message of communal harmony and national integration. Radhey Sham Sharma, former Editor of Dainik Tribune was the chief guest.

R-Day in Panchkula: The city celebrated its 60th Republic Day with great fervour and enthusiasm as students of various government and private schools, dressed up in colourful dresses, performed on patriotic songs at the Parade Grounds in Sector 5, Panchkula, on Monday. The chief guest on the occasion was Lakshman Das Arora, minister of industries, Haryana who took the guard of honour. He spoke about the successful projects of the Haryana Government and the progress that is being made by the present government. Tableau by different departments of the Haryana government attracted the audience. Awards were also given to the students who had excelled in exams, police personnel and teachers. Others present during the function included DC, Panchkula, Rajender Kumar Kataria, SP, Panchkula, Sandeep Khirwar, MC President, Rawinder Rawal and other dignitaries.