Hoisting the tricolour 200 kms from the Pakistan border enhances the sense of pride. Specially 15 months after Operation Sindoor when the neighbouring country was crawling.
Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma decided to celebrate the state event of 80th Independence Day in Bikaner – not in the state capital Jaipur. The function was celebrated with immense pride, gaiety and gusto.
The district administration impressed the dignitaries with complete preparedness and minute to minute precision. Officials had sleepless nights working 24×7 for the successful hosting of the event in limited resources. Their efforts paid off as Bikaner was seen drenched in the colour of valour.
Bikaner hosted the main event of Independence Day after a gap of 18 years. That time Shikhar Agarwal was the Collector and Hawa Singh Ghumaria was the Superintendent of Police. This time reins were in the hands of Collector Nishant Jain and SP Mridul Kachawa. They worked in close coordination to make the event successful.
What message the event carried?
Hosting of state celebration in Bikaner had strong political and social messaging. The decision of making Bikaner the venue has more to do with preparedness of government in border district. The central and state governments are keen on border security and mobilising development works in border areas.
“We want to sensitise people about the need of security in sensitive areas. Such celebration will instill feeling of patriotism in people living near border. And when Operations like Sindoor are carried out, our forces get full support from local public,” said a senior official.
What happened at the event?
Apart from flag hoisting, a grand drone show was held at the Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences grounds, featuring an illuminated storytelling sequence detailing Bikaner's history (Rao Bika, Junagarh Fort, and Maharaja Ganga Singh) alongside the Indian Army's “Operation Sindoor”.
Around 1,200 school children and 200 folk artists delivered massive group cultural and yoga performances.
Parade was also held which featured 15 platoons, including a unique march-past by the Border Security Force (BSF) Camel Contingent.
Vivek Shukla is a management graduate who has worked in corporate worked for 20 years and is now pursuing his passion — news.
