A motley crowd cheered lustily when the grand finale of the International Fleet Review was telecast from RK Beach live on a digital screen put up at Dr. V.S. Krishna Degree College grounds here on Sunday.
Several places including a function hall near Shanti Ashram where the mega event was telecast live on a huge screen had attracted huge crowds.
For all those who missed the opportunity to get passes to witness the operational display and parade by participating nations on the Beach Road, the beaming of the event on digital screens and free tickets issued for screening the proceedings of IFR at 41 theatres, the display on digital screens came as a big relief.
Continuous mosquito bites notwithstanding, many preferred to watch the complete telecast, some sitting on their two-wheelers and comfort of their cars giving them a totally different experience. Doordarshan came under praise for live telecast of entire proceedings of the IFR.
“After watching the operational display and the parade and the address of Prime Minister Narenda Modi on the digital screen near my house, I am very much thrilled. It has made me awe-struck. In fact, it was better to watch here comfortably without any jostling than going with a pass and witnessing the event in a near-stampede situation,” said Haresh Kumar, an engineering student.
The crowds were enthralled by the three-dimensional demonstration of naval might. Most of those who watched captured some of the rare spectacle on their mobile phones and tabs.
“It is once in a lifetime opportunity. That’s the reason why I had to close my shop and watch on the digital screen along with my family,” said Suribabu, who owns a pan shop in HB Colony area.
