Kolkata: West Bengal joined the rest of the country in celebrating the 63rd Republic Day on Thursday with the hoisting of the Tricolour in all districts, including Maoist-hit Jangalmahal.
The main function was held on the Indira Gandhi Sarani in the Maidan area where Governor M K Narayanan unfurled the Tricolour before taking salute at the traditional Republic Day parade.
Five girls, Mukti, Beena, Afsana, Sunita and Sangeeta who won this year's National Bravery Award, were given prideof place at the event with their vehicle immediately following that of parade commander and Deputy GoC of Army's Bengal Area command, Brig A K Sharma.
Various contingents of the armed forces, para-military, state and city police, various state government departments and NGOs participated in the parade which also showcased some military hardware.
For the first time, the Election Commission's state unit participated with a tableau with the slogan "greater participation for a stronger democracy".
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, some of her cabinet colleagues witnessed the parade along with the GOC-in-C of the Army's Eastern Command Lt Gen Bikram Singh, chief secretary Samar Ghosh, home secretary G D Gautama, DGP Naparajit Mukherjee and city police commissioner R K Pachnanda.
The day was celebrated at the headquarters of the Eastern Railway, South Eastern Railway, Metro Railway and the Kolkata Port Trust.
Republic Day was also celebrated in Maoist-affected Jhargram in West Midnapore district where the sub-divisional officer unfurled the Tricolour and took the salute at a march past.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, January 26, 2012, 17:32