The scorching Monday heat and an intensely humid weather did little to bother the visitors –the mega event looked like an interesting break right after the weekend to most of them.
Thousands of people on Monday rubbed shoulders at Bharat Parv –a vibrant six day patriotic festival at the Rajpath Lawns which brought together the diverse cuisine, clothes and handicrafts and cultural programmes by local artistes from across the country –a welcome change from the otherwise plain August 15 celebrations in the capital.
The scorching Monday heat and an intensely humid weather did little to bother the visitors –the mega event looked like an interesting break right after the weekend to most of them.
The festival –replete with state-specific, colourful stalls of handicrafts and clothes from every state of the country –saw at least three lakh visitors on Monday, security officials present at the venue said. This is the first time an event of this magnitude has been organised by the central government as part of the Independence Day celebrations.
Fifteen-year-old Rosa, who had come for a performance from Manipur, said she and her fellow artistes have been preparing for nearly a month to perform at the gala event. "I'm looking forward to our performance. This gave us an opportunity to come to Delhi," Rosa said as she was rehearsing at the backstage. "This is my first visit to the capital," she quipped.
Another artiste from Karnataka said his group have also been preparing for a month to perform their state act in the event. "Our state culture department contacted us and we have been coordinating with them for the event," the artiste said.
For the visitors, it was a fun-filled day out, shopping and trying out different state cuisines. "We usually head out of the city if the Independence Day clashes with the weekend, as there are no events in the city, but for the Prime Minister's address. However, this is something we were looking forward to ever since we read about it in events. You don't really get so many things together often," said Shailja Pandey, a school teacher who had come with her family.
Stall keepers peddling state specialities, too expressed happiness to be part of the event. "Such exhibitions are a good opportunity for us to showcase our state's uniqueness. In the last few days, we have sold nearly half of our metal products," said one of the stall keepers of the Chhattigarh state stall.
The photo exhibition which showcased old, archived photos of late freedom fighters also drew many visitors, most of whom were eager to click selfies alongside the showcased pictures. A section in the exhibition called "Videsh Niti" was splashed with several pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign trips –with him and his counterparts in other countries, and some other pictures of former Prime Ministers of India, during their foreign tours.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Independence Day")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}