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