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Sandeep Dikshit

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in Mauritius

— Photo: PTI

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam plants a sapling at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam botanical garden in Port Louis on Sunday. Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam and his wife are also seen.

PORT LOUIS : President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was the chief guest at the Mauritius National Day celebrations here on Sunday. The choice of the day resonates with strong Indian links for Mahatma Gandhi embarked on the Dandi salt yatra in 1930 on the same day.

At a short ceremony, Mauritius paraded its ethnic diversity with compact groups representing all its nationalities presenting their unique cultural affinities.

Kolattam

While Tamils presented the `Kolattam' and `Karagham' in measured steps, those sourcing their links from Uttar Pradesh demonstrated the celebration of `Holi', the festival of colours, with abandon.

Troupes from Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, two other major ethnic groups with roots in India, along with those of African and Chinese also paraded their wares. The Indian connection in Mauritian Defence Services also came to the fore with Chetak helicopters taking to the skies with the national flag. They were followed by Dornier aircraft.

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