Governor Unfurls Tricolour at Historic Ridge in Shimla as Himachal Pradesh Celebrates 77th Republic Day with Grandeur.
Shimla:
The 77th Republic Day of India was celebrated with immense pride, patriotic fervour, and traditional splendour at the historic Ridge in Shimla, where Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla unfurled the National Flag at the State-level event on Sunday.
After unfurling the Tricolour, the Governor inspected the parade led by Additional Superintendent of Police, Shimla, Mehar Panwar, and took the salute from an impressive march past commanded by Lt. Shashwat Tiwari of the 1 J&K Rifles. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Lady Governor Janaki Shukla were also present on the occasion, adding to the dignity of the state celebration.
The ceremonial march past showcased the discipline, unity, and national pride of various forces and organizations. Contingents from the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Punjab Police, Himachal Pradesh Police, Home Guards, Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh Postal Services, Disaster Management, ex-servicemen, National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), Bharat Scouts and Guides, and other units participated in the parade, earning applause from the large gathering.
On this prestigious occasion, Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla honoured Ritik Chauhan of Gagana village under Chambi Post Office in Chopal tehsil of Shimla district with the Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak for displaying exemplary courage and selflessness in saving lives.
Colourful tableaux presented by various government departments highlighting key developmental initiatives, welfare schemes, and achievements of the state government emerged as a major attraction of the celebrations, offering a glimpse into Himachal Pradesh’s progress across sectors.
Cultural programmes infused vibrancy and festivity into the event. Artists from the North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala, presented captivating folk dances from Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttarakhand, reflecting India’s rich cultural diversity. The Eklavya Kala Manch of Himachal Pradesh Police, 1st IRBN Bangarh, Una, delivered a powerful street play on the theme ‘Drug-Free Himachal’, creating awareness about the harmful effects of drug abuse and the menace of illegal narcotics smuggling, particularly Chitta. Cultural troupes from Hamirpur and Shimla further enthralled the audience with their impressive performances.
The celebrations were attended by Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh, MLAs Kuldeep Rathore and Mohan Lal Brakta, Principal Media Advisor to the Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan, Mayor of Municipal Corporation Shimla Surinder Chauhan, Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta, Director General of Police Ashok Tiwari, Deputy Mayor Uma Kaushal, senior civil, police and military officers, and a large number of people from across the state, who gathered to witness the historic occasion.
The grand state-level celebration at the Ridge stood as a vibrant reflection of national unity, democratic values, and the collective resolve to uphold the ideals enshrined in the Constitution of India.
