The 74th Republic Day was celebrated with gaiety and fervour across the state on Thursday. The state level function was held in Shimla where Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar unfurled the National Flag. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri attended the function at Una and Cabinet Ministers at other district headquarters.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was also present in the function at Shimla.
The Governor inspected the parade and took a salute from an impressive march past led by Parade Commander Lt. Karan Gogna from 22 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles.
The contingents of Army, Indo-Tibeten Border Police, Himachal Pradesh Armed Police, Uttarakhand Police, State Police, Home Guards, Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh Postal Services, Disaster Management, Ex-servicemen, NCC, NSS, Bharat Scout and Guide also participated in the march past.
Tableaux highlighting various development activities of different departments were also presented on the occasion. Tableaux of the state tourism department won the first prize of Rs 10000 in cash.
The artists of Information and Public Relations Department performed a skit based on the decision taken by the present state government for the welfare of the people and weaker section of the society. The culture troupes from Chamba, Hamirpur, Anni, and from Kinnaur were part of the cultural programme, besides troupes from North Zone Cultural Centre, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir also performed on the occasion.
Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mohan Lal Brakta, MLA, Harish Janartha, Principal Media Advisor Naresh Chauhan, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, DGP Sanjay Kundu among others was present on the occasion.