The Walled City hosted Delhiites from all across the Capital as well as foreign tourists on Independence Day, with kite-flying, music and dance programmes to keep everyone busy.
For the first time, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation celebrated August 15 as a festival, with food stalls, face-painting sessions and collaborative artworks for visitors to take part in. Though chain restaurants like Haldiram’s and McDonald’s did brisk business, traditional snacks like kachoris and jalebis sold at stalls were also a hit with visitors.
Saare Jahan Se AcchaThe feeling of patriotism extended to the Chandni Chowk metro station, where “Saare Jahan Se Accha” replaced routine announcements on the public address system.
The Corporation had closed the 1.2-km-long stretch from Gauri Shankar Mandir to Fatehpuri Masjid, making the area free for pedestrians and cyclists. North Delhi Mayor Yogender Chandolia and Delhi Chief Secretary S.K. Srivastava were among those who cycled down the road and left their hand prints on an art wall.
Rachna Rustogi, a Class III student from Krishna Nagar, enjoyed cycling, eating ice-cream and looking at a string of kites in the air.
As the shy girl hid behind her parents, her mother Rachna said: “It was very important for us to show our children the importance of Independence Day.”
Another family had come all the way from Faridabad. The father, Shailesh Nigam, had spent half his life in Old Delhi. “Unfortunately, we don’t come here often, but I wanted my children to experience what the area has to offer,” said Mr. Nigam.
Spirit of the dayWith music wafting through the galis of Chandni Chowk, visitors enjoyed themselves despite the muggy weather. Karishma Sharma, a resident of Jungpura Extension in South Delhi, said the spirit of the day drew her to Old Delhi. While adding her hand prints to a tricolour wall, Ms. Sharma said she was “feeling the excitement”.
