Full dress rehearsal at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium ahead of August 15
Jalandhar — A full dress rehearsal for the district-level Independence Day function was held at the Guru Gobind Singh Stadium on Thursday, with District Commissioner Varjeet Walia unfurling the national flag and inspecting the parade, The Tribune reported.
After the flag was raised, the DC reviewed the march past and took salute from contingents that included central and state forces, school units and the CRPF band. Senior district officers and police officials were present during the proceedings, which also featured mass physical training displays and cultural presentations by students from several schools.
"During the district-level function on August 15, Punjab's Horticulture, Freedom Fighters and Defence Services Welfare Minister Mohinder Bhagat would unfurl the flag," the Tribune reported quoting the DC.
Security, public convenience and honours on agenda
Following the rehearsal, Walia chaired a meeting with officers from multiple departments and issued specific directions aimed at managing the expected public turnout of students and residents for the main function.
- Ensure smooth entry and orderly seating for spectators, especially school contingents.
- Maintain cleanliness and provide adequate drinking water facilities across the venue.
- Police to organise traffic management, security cover and designated parking areas.
- Prepare to honour families of freedom fighters and martyrs, and to felicitate notable personalities and departmental employees.
"Necessary arrangements for smooth entry, seating, cleanliness, drinking water, etc. should be ensured," the Tribune reported the DC as saying.
Contingents and participants
The parade commander was named as Atish Bhatia. The lineup for the rehearsal included a mix of central forces, state police wings and school units, underlining the civic and educational involvement in the district-level ceremony.
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| District Commissioner | Varjeet Walia |
| Deputy Commissioner (Police) | Parminder Singh Heer |
| Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) | Amaninder Kaur |
| Parade Commander | Atish Bhatia |
Units that took part in the march past included the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Punjab Police (men), the Punjab Police Women Wing, PRTC-Jahan Khelan, Punjab Home Guards, NCC boys and girls, CRPF band and school contingents such as Lyallpur Khalsa School boys and girls and students from Government Senior Secondary School, Nehru Garden, among others.
Local implications and preparations
For residents of Jalandhar city and surrounding areas, the directions issued by the DC indicate planned traffic diversions and controlled parking near Guru Gobind Singh Stadium on August 15. Schools and colleges expected to attend will likely receive prior instructions on assembly points and seating allocations, while municipal and other civic teams must ensure drinking water and sanitation facilities are in place.
The DC's announcement that state minister Mohinder Bhagat will preside over the main ceremony as the guest who will unfurl the Tricolour gives the district event higher profile; this typically increases public and media attention, and places a premium on logistics and security planning by local authorities.
Additional district officers named in the rehearsal coverage included Additional Deputy Commissioner (Rural Development) Divya P, SDM Jalandhar-1 Shubhi Angra, SDM Jalandhar-2 Shayari Malhotra, ADCP Sukhwinder Singh and Assistant Commissioner (G) Varun Kumar. Representatives of educational institutions also attended the rehearsal and briefing, underlining the role schools will play in the August 15 function.
The Tribune reported the rehearsal and subsequent directions. The administration has asked all departments to perform assigned duties with diligence to ensure the district-level Independence Day ceremony proceeds without disruption.
