As India is all set to celebrate its 77th Independence Day, the armed forces of the country on Sunday conducted a full dress rehearsal at the iconic Red Fort in New Delhi.
A batch of Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters even showered flowers on the Armed Forces personnel conducting the rehearsal.
The Independence Day celebrations will commence with the Armed Forces and Delhi Police Guard of Honour to the Prime Minister followed by the hoisting of the National Flag, the playing of the National Anthem and a 21-gun salute.
Apart from the national capital, similar rehearsals were held in India's states and Union Territories.
As per the media reports, around 1,800 special guests from across the country will be attending the flag hoisting ceremony on Tuesday.
Apart from this, people who have contributed to the development of the country including village sarpanchs (heads of local village bodies), teachers, nurses, border organization workers, etc. have also been invited for the ceremony.
The security in the national capital and other states has also been beefed up in the view of I-Day celebrations.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police had issued an advisory for the full dress rehearsal for the Independence Day function to ensure the smooth flow of vehicles.
As per the advisory, a total of eight roads: Netaji Subhash Marg, Lothian Road, S.P Mukherjee Marg, Chandni Chowk Road, Nishad Raj Marg, Esplanade Road and its Link Road, Ring Road from Rajghat to ISBT, and Outer Ring Road from ISBT to IP Flyover, were closed for the general public from 4 - 11 a.m. (IST) on Sunday.
Addressing the looming Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged his countrymen to participate in the “Har Ghar Tiranga” (hoisting of the national flag in every home) campaign.
The “Har Ghar Tiranga” campaign was launched last year by the Prime Minister as part of 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav'. Under the campaign, the citizens were encouraged to hoist national flag at their homes from August 13-15.