BENGALURU: The 80th State-level Independence Day celebrations will be held at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Ground on August 15, with chief minister DK Shivakumar scheduled to hoist the national flag at 9am, take the salute at the parade and inaugurate the cultural programme.For the first time, the complete version of the national song Vande Mataram will be played as part of the ceremony.It will be followed by the flag hoisting at 9am and the national anthem.The CM’s Independence Day address will begin at 9.10am.Those attending the ceremony have been asked to be seated in their designated places by 8.15am.Members of the public can enter through Gate 4 by approaching the venue on Cubbon Road from the Manipal Centre side.Those with green-coloured passes and e-passes can enter through Gate 5.Greater Bengaluru chief commissioner Maheshwar Rao said the parade will have 1,360 participants, while around 8,000 visitors are expected to attend the celebrations.The cultural programme will include a special performance by Akka Pade, featuring 170 female police personnel from Bidar district and Bengaluru city.The ‘Vande Mataram Shanti Mantra’ dance performance will feature 800 students from Government High School, Thanisandra.A special programme on the Bharat Jodo Yuva Sangha scheme will be performed by 600 students from multiple colleges.Members of the public have been requested not to carry cigarettes, food items, matchboxes, flyers or banners, water bottles, video and still cameras, black handkerchiefs, fireworks, explosives or sharp objects to the venue.Police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said more than 2,000 police personnel have been deployed for security and traffic management in and around the venue.Parking has been prohibited on Central Street, Cubbon Road and MG Road, from Anil Kumble Circle to Queen’s Circle.
