By IANS
New Delhi : Be it the enthusiastic and vocal ‘Jai Hind’ of school children or the smiles on people’s faces as the national flag flapped in the breeze, the spirit of India’s 60th anniversary of independence was captured in a myriad of hues Wednesday.
On a bright and chirpy morning, thousands of spectators – including diplomats and schoolchildren – gathered at the historic Red Fort here to mark the main official celebrations.
What added colour to the spectacle was the presence of thousands of energetic school children dressed in saffron, white and green – the colours of the national flag.
With the day starting to get warmer, there was some restlessness among the people seated in the open. But once Prime Minister Manmohan Singh unfurled the Indian flag and the national anthem played soon after, there was an overpowering silence in the audience.
The prime minister’s inspiring speech, delivered in crisp Hindi, invited loud and frequent applause.
The celebration came to an end with the singing of the national anthem. Hundreds of tri-colour balloons soared in the sky, reminding one of the free spirit that India is.