Mamata breaks tradition, parade on I-Day in Kolkata

Kolkata: West Bengal celebrated the 66th Independence Day with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hoisting the Tricolour at the Indira Gandhi Sarani, also known as Red Road, in a departure from the traditional venue near Writers' Building since 1948.

Banerjee took the salute at a colourful combined marchpast of the Kolkata and state police, besides the Rapid Action Force, Eastern Frontier Rifles, CISF, Mounted Police, Fire Brigade and personnel of security agencies.

Tableaux representing various state government departments, including micro and small-scale industries, stole the show.

Hundreds of school children also took part in the marchpast.

Members of the Cabinet, consular corps, defence personnel and senior state and central government officials were present at the function.

Elaborate security arrangements were made at the Indira Gandhi Sarani with intelligence personnel of the Kolkata police keeping vigil with sniffer dogs.