Chennai: The usually calm Kamarajar Salai woke up to drums, colour and the roar of engines on Sunday as the 77th Republic Day celebrations turned the Marina Promenade into a grand theatre of spectacle, blending military might with cultural exuberance.The celebrations began with a grand motorcade, with white cruiser bikes escorting chief minister M K Stalin, while another batch of white-and-red cruisers accompanied Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, who later unfurled the Tricolour as a helicopter showered rose petals on the venue.
The armed forces then rolled out a powerful display of combat platforms, parading the Bhishma T-90 battle tank, warship INS Anjadip and the Tejas light combat aircraft, besides missile systems such as the short-range surface-to-air Akash and the long-range BrahMos, which can be launched from ships, submarines and aircraft.Among the highlights was the cultural segment, which showcased traditional dance forms from across the country, underlining the theme of unity in diversity. The audience watched in awe as artistes presented Rajasthan’s Chari dance, in which women in red-themed flared skirts and blouses, with orange veils, balanced earthen pots with burning lamps on their heads, symbolising the daily task of fetching water.This was followed by the energetic Lambani folk dance from Karnataka, performed by women of the Banjara community, celebrating life, nature and the harvest season. The cultural segment also featured Jhijhiya, a traditional dance form from the Mithila region, usually performed during Navaratri, adding a devotional touch to the celebrations.Tamil Nadu’s rich folk heritage found prominent representation through Periya Melam, a traditional percussion-based performance from Tiruvannamalai that is an integral part of temple festivals and weddings, and Devarattam, a vigorous group dance performed by men with swift, rhythmic movements to folk tunes. Stealing the spotlight was the Poikkal Kuthirai Attam, or Dummy Horse Dance, in which artistes created the illusion of riding a horse using a beautifully decorated prop made of bamboo and cardboard.The celebrations also featured parades by the Army, Navy and Air Force, followed by a march-past by school students, including those from DAV and PS Senior Secondary School.
