NEW DELHI: A trip back to the Freedom struggle, tributes to stalwarts who played a key role in it and a peek into the quintessential crafts, culture and tradition of the States — the tableaux that rolled down Rajpath on Friday as part of the 58th Republic Day celebrations had it all.

A testimony to the workmanship of hundreds of artisans, the floats added colour and zing to the spectacle of the country's military might. Eighteen States and eight Ministries showcased their achievements, espoused social causes, stressed the need for conservation and took the onlookers back to the Freedom struggle.

Most States represented

The Goa tableau, the first to roll past, set the mood for what was to follow. A live band brought alive the legendary zest of the coastal people. The State showcased its vintage houses.

The northeast was well represented and Arunachal Pradesh showcased rustic people harnessing its rich natural resources. Meghalaya put on show its USP — the Cherrapunjee orange honey. A mammoth honey-dripping beehive and orchards rich with ripe and full oranges made up the float. Manipur showcased the Kangla festival, while the theme of Assam's tableau was the evolution of its oil industry. Mizoram depicted terrace cultivation.

The Chhattisgarh float aimed at giving life to the dying Dhokra craft of the tribes, while the Uttarakhand one paid tribute to its conservation projects as well as tiger man Jim Corbett. The mood was spiritual as the float of Himachal Pradesh rolled by. Chants of the Buddhist monks filled the air and the tableau showed monasteries nestling amidst snowy hills.

Kerala was the only representative from the South, with Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu giving the show a miss. The "God's Own Country" displayed its seat of traditional arts — the Kalamandalam.

Serhul festival being celebrated by the tribes in a dense forest was the theme of Jharkhand. The Charar-e-Sharief, the Hemis monastery and the ancient Bavey Wali Mata existing in harmony made up the tableau from Jammu and Kashmir.

Madhya Pradesh's float was a musical affair. The Tansen festival was in full flow and the musicians were engaged in a "jugalbandi."

Maharashtra's float with a huge brass turtle popping out its head caught the fancy of the children. The State displayed Jejuri ka Khandova temple with its traditional architecture.

Tripura's Hozagiri dance tableau came alive with beats and rhythm and a tribal woman balancing on one foot to greet was a hit with the onlookers.

Uttar Pradesh was in patriotic fervour with the float showcasing the 1857 uprising and paying tributes to Mangal Pandey.

Orissa showcased its Kondhei craft.

The final entry among the States was Delhi, which emphasised on "Stree Shakti." It was followed by the tableaux of the Ministries. The pick of the lot were the floral float "Nanhi Duniya" by the Central Public Works Department and the Ministry of Culture's "100 years of Satyagraha" that brought the curtain down on the tableaux.

The Ministry recaptured models of Gandhiji as well as the historic incident in South Africa where the Mahatma was thrown out of his carriage and the salt march.

The Ministries of Railways, Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Home Affairs, Social Justice and Empowerment, Tribal Affairs and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region also showcased their floats. Two tableaux of the Army and one of the Navy and the DRDO also rolled down Rajpath.

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