Feats such as scaling the Public Utility building on M G Road -- which is something of a ritual every year -- was observed, except that it was performed by girls. In place of a climb to the top, it was a climb down.

Equally attention-drawing was a marathon walk through the city by a single person (he did not stop even to give his name). Dressed in khadi, the man held the tricolour high throughout the silent marathon. A placard hung around his neck read: ``I am walking for national integration and world peace''. With even the papaya-seller at Shivajinagar pitching a plastic national flag on his push-cart, the Independence fever could be seen as reaching the grass-roots. Automobiles, including the `Hoysalas', flew the little plastic imitations on their dashboards. Youth organisations across the city organisedblood-donation camps. The Electronics division of the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) even had `Gandhi'' gracing its Independence Day celebrations. An old man covered in silver white paint was paid to look like the Mahatma during the function.

Two voluntary organisations Asha Deepa and Maya -- decided to bring some cheer to the lives of street children and child labourers, even if it was for a day. At least 50 children whose parents work in the City Market area as vendors and daily-wagers, were taken by volunteers to the Neeladri Amusement Park on the outskirts of the city. The children spent the entire day exploring the thrills of roller-coaster rides and giant wheels. Full Cycle, another non-governmental organisation, brought together ragpickers to hoist the national flag at a small-scale function at Rayasandra village near Hosur. But not before they collected garbage door-to-door on their tricycles in Koramangala.

The Bangalore City Corporation, jointly with the Information and PublicityDirectorate, took the opportunity to educate slum-dwellers in 17 slums about cleanliness, hygiene and health. An environmental awareness film festival --to be screened at all the 17 slums -- was inaugurated at Shantinagar on Friday.