August 4: Cannons will boom along with sirens on August nine, 1997 bringing life to a halt for two minutes in remembrance of martyrs and simultaneously kicking off an year-long celebration of the golden jubilee of the country's Independence.

All traffic signals would turn red and vehicular as well as railway traffic would come to a stop while pedestrians and households as well as officegoers would stand still as a mark of respect at the booming of cannons after the unfurling of the tricolour in the evening.

Their homage would coincide with the two-minute silence that would be observed at August Kranti Maidan in the presence of Prime Minister I K Gujral and a host of governors, chief ministers, freedom fighters and other dignitaries.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.