Hyderabad: Patriotic fervor marked the government's "Swatantra Bharata Vajrotsavalu", the diamond jubilee celebrations of India's Independence, that began at the HICC on Monday. Cultural programmes lasting for over an hour left the audience mesmerised.
The highlight was the performance by artists on the role of women in the freedom struggle.
The rendering of patriotic national songs and salute by the Army and Police bands added to the spirit of the celebrations.
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, all ministers barring K.T. Rama Rao, who is recovering from a leg injury, and Satyavathi Rathod, whose mother passed away last week, took part in the celebrations. Over 2,500 public representatives participated.
The CM launched the celebrations by paying floral tributes to Bharat Mata and Mahatma Gandhi at the venue.
The 'sand art' explaining various phases of India's freedom struggle from the First War of Independence in 1857 until India attained Independence in 1947 was the centre of attraction.
The stunning performances by artists choreographed by Dr Alekhya Punjala on women freedom fighters Rani Jhansi Lakshmi Bai and Lakshmi Sehgal nee Swaminathan of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) grabbed eyeballs.
The cultural programmes ended with classical dancer Dr Vaishnavie Sainath's team's performance for A.R. Rahman's ‘Maa Tujhe Salaam,’ which received a huge round of applause.
