Bengal celebrates Independence Day

Kolkata, Aug 15 (IANS) Patriotic fervour marked the Independence Day celebrations here on Monday with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee unfurling the tricolour at Indira Gandhi Sarani.

Banerjee inspected a guard of honour while members of the city and state police and NCC cadets took out a parade. The event also saw colourful performances by folk dance troupes who came from various parts of the state.

Governor K.N. Tripathi paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Barrackpore. He also spun the charkha.

The national flag was also unfurled across the districts of West Bengal and elsewhere in Kolakata while cultural programmes were held in schools, colleges and residential localities.

Elaborate security arrangements, including check-posts at strategic locations, were made in and around Kolkata for the day.

After Trinamool Congress came to power in 2011, Banerjee shifted the location of the Independence Day function from Writers’ Buildings (the state secretariat) to Indira Gandhi Sarani, also known as Red Road.

She also started the Independence Day parades.