Education institutions humming with activities for I-Day

Patna: Patriotic fervour has gripped the city with August 15 preparations in full swing at educational institutions as well as government organizations.
After Patna DM Sanjay Kumar Agarwal’s directive to all schools to celebrate Independence Day, national anthem practice can be heard on almost all campuses. “Besides flag hoisting, students will also put up a short cultural programme for which rehearsals are underway,” St Xavier’s High School vice-principal Fr Manish told TOI.Most schools organize similar functions to mark the day.
A number of schools and colleges, in fact, have extended the I-Day celebration for a week or fortnight and are organizing several sub-events such as patriotic songs and dance contests and essay and slogan writing competitions etc in the run up to August 15. Some institutions have also planned events post-Independence Day.
If you pass the S K Memorial hall, you will see artists busy in giving final touches to the tableaux, which will be a part of the I-Day programme at Gandhi Maidan. The ‘Saat Nishchays’ of CM Nitish Kumar, total prohibition, women empowerment and other government schemes are some of the themes of the tableaux. More than 12 tableaux will be on display during the parade.
While retail tricolour shops had not come up in the city till Friday evening, the wholesalers were seen working overtime to meet the demand. “While I stitch flags throughout the year, the main business starts one week before the Independence Day. The price of the flag depends on its size and material and ranges between Rs5 and Rs300,” said Mohammad Shahabuddin, a wholesaler in the business for over three decades behind the Patna high court.
A number of social organizations and apartment dwellers also hold flag-hoisting programmes on August 15. “The kids of my apartment are also preparing a short patriotic programme which they will stage after the flag-hoisting ceremony,” Monika Kumari, a homemaker in Digha, said.
On Friday, Patna DM and SSP Manu Maharaaj reviewed the preparations of the state function to be organized at Gandhi Maidan from 9am on Monday. They looked into the security bundobust and traffic restriction plan that will be in place that day. As per the tradition, CM Nitish Kumar will inspect the parade and take the salute.