NEW DELHI: In sharp contrast to the inclement weather on Monday, there was not even a hint of a cloud in the sky during the Independence Day celebrations at the majestic Red Fort here on Tuesday morning.

Though the Meteorological Department had forecast a cloudy sky with spells of rain, the sun shone brightly proving them wrong. Hot and uncomfortable, the audience used the programme schedule brochure distributed at the venue as cover.

As the sun rose higher, the demand for the programme schedule shot up. The hot sun and the lack of drinking water facilities left many, especially the elderly and the young children, restless. With the ``no liquid'' regulation in place inside the Red Fort complex, the audience was literally left high and dry.

Blame it on the oppressive heat or probably a faulty sound system, hundreds of government school children clapped enthusiastically at the most inopportune moment during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's address to the nation.

A tad embarrassed and even amused at the timings of the claps, the audience was left wondering why the mistake was repeated several times during Dr. Singh's speech.

While it is usually the children's enthusiastic clapping that keeps up the tempo during the speech, this time round the timing of the applause did not synchronise with the speech. Clearly, whoever was giving the children the cue to applaud was getting it wrong.

Easily the most enthusiastic participants at the 7 a.m. function, it was the children dressed in rows of saffron, white and green and their patriotic songs that made the function colourful.

Impermeable security

The impermeable security cover seemed to be the order of the day with the streets and adjoining lane and bylanes around the Red Fort seeing a virtual sea of security personnel stationed since early morning.

People coming in for the function were checked at least thrice with cops sometimes insisting on checking their hair and socks. While most people went through the drill without much fuss, there were a few who insisted on being allowed in with packets of ``gutka."

The explanation being that ``gutka'' was ``part of their morning ritual, which they could not do without it." They were asked to throw away the packets if they were keen on taking part in the function.

Fewer people turned up for the celebrations.

Several seats remained unoccupied with many Government servants opting to stay away. Last year, it was mandatory for officials to attend the function and they were in full attendance.

The release of colourful balloons at the end of the function evoked spontaneous applause from the children.

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