Even in her absence, former Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa made her presence felt during the 66th Republic Day parade at Marina here on Monday morning, as one float after another moved down the Kamarajar Salai bearing oversize images of the AIADMK leader.
Chief minister O Panneerselvam, who welcomed governor K Rosaiah for the flag hoisting, kept to himself, maintaining a stoic silence all through the celebrations.
The festivities began at 8am as flower petals showered over the national flag from a helicopter, followed by the ceremonial march past which saw floats by different contingents as the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and police.
Large 'Amma' posters, splayed generously over each of the floats, greeted thousands of spectators who gathered at the Marina. However, the number of people was much reduced in comparison with the crowd that attended the celebrations last year where Jayalalithaa was present.
In the award ceremony that followed, the chief minister gave away medals for bravery and a special award to a famer with the highest yield in the last year.
School and college students treated the crowds to traditional dance performances such as 'kummiyattam', tambourine dance, 'salangaiyattam' and 'kolattam'.
'Chakri' dance of Rajasthan, Duff Muttu of Malabar, 'bihu' dance of Assam and local favourites 'karagattam' and 'silambattam' were also performed.
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