Sidelights of Independence Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the Red Fort amid a thunderous applause as thousands of people stood to catch a glimpse of him.

-- The prime minister, who unfurled the national flag at the 17th century Mughal monument on the 72th Independence Day, was dressed in a kurta and sported a saffron and red Rajasthani-style turban.

-- Modi got down from his black Range Rover and waved to the crowd, which included hundreds of school children.

-- He was received by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Ramrao Bhamre and Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra.

-- The secretary introduced the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Delhi area, to Modi.

-- The prime minister, accompanied by the GOC, then proceeded towards the saluting base where a combined Inter-Services and Police Guard presented a general salute to Modi.

-- The PM then walked to the ramparts of the Red Fort and unfurled the tricolour around 7.30 am.

-- The guards then presented the national salute as the band played the national anthem amid a 21-gun salute.

-- The prime minister then addressed the nation for over 80 minutes. For the fifth year in a row, he spoke from an open-air podium and not a bullet-proof glass enclosure.

-- Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were former prime minister Manmohan Singh, BJP veteran leader L K Advani, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, BJP national president Amit Shah and Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Harsh Vardhan and Ram Vilas Paswan.

-- After his address, Modi waved to the crowd and moved to his motorcade for departure. But on his way out, he stopped and sidestepped security cordon to enter an enclosure where children welcomed him with loud cheers. He shook hands with many of them.