State tableau to be cynosure

KOLKATA: The tableau of the Bengal government Ekatai Sampriti (unity is harmony) is going to be the main attraction of the Republic Day Parade in Kolkata on Friday.

It may be mentioned that the Bengal government had proposed the same theme for the state's tableau in Delhi's Republic Day Parade. But it was not given the necessary clearance to participate in the parade. Soon after the matter came to light, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced Ekatai Sampriti as its theme for the tableau for the Republic Day Parade in Kolkata.

Accordingly steps were taken and to give shape to the tableau, work is going on in full swing at present. The design of the tableau is almost the same as it was proposed for Delhi. The tableau is given a shape of a tram with messages of communal harmony written all over it. In front of the tableau, Ekotai Sampriti is written in Bengali and there are photographs of children from different parts of the country with Indian flags in their hands.

"The tableau that will be presented here will be slightly different from what was proposed for Delhi. For Delhi, a structure resembling Victoria Memorial Hall was supposed to be there at the very beginning of the tableau. But the structure of Victoria Memorial Hall will not be there on Kolkata's one. The reason being that there is no provision of constructing the structure of Victoria Memorial Hall on the vehicle on which the tableau is being developed," said an official adding that this is the only tableau of the Bengal government in the Parade which will be starting at 10 am with Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi hoisting the Indian flag. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be present at the programme on Red Road. The Kolkata Police Band will be playing the national Anthem.

The Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy will participate in the parade and their tableaus will be there in it. Para Military Forces will also be participating in it. Students from six schools, West Bengal Police, Kolkata Police, NCC, Civil Defence and two non-government organisations will be taking part in the march past.

There will be a performance by the Lepcha community. Members of Sukanya project of the Kolkata Police under which girls undergo self-defence training will also be performing besides Chhau dancers from Purulia.