Governor Kataria receives dignitaries at Punjab Lok Bhavan on August 15
Chandigarh: Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory of Chandigarh, Gulab Chand Kataria hosted the traditional ‘At Home’ reception at the lawns of Punjab Lok Bhavan on the evening of August 15 to mark the 80th Independence Day, officials said.
The reception, which began after the day’s ceremonial functions, brought together a cross-section of public life in Punjab and Chandigarh. The Governor arrived at the venue at around 5:00 pm and was received with a ceremonial welcome by the Police Band. The programme included the rendition of Vande Mataram followed by the National Anthem, and the Lok Bhavan lawns were decorated for the occasion, the statement said.
Who attended
The event was attended by constitutional authorities, elected representatives, senior officers of the civil and police administration, members of the Armed Forces, academicians and heads of public bodies. The list of notable guests included:
- Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Governor of Haryana
- S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, Chief Minister of Punjab
- Shri Nayab Singh Saini, Chief Minister of Haryana
- S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha
- Shri Harvinder Kalyan, Speaker, Haryana Vidhan Sabha
- Shri Manish Tewari, Member of Parliament
- S. Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Member of Parliament
- Senior bureaucrats and officers including Punjab Chief Secretary K. A. P. Sinha and Chief Secretary, UT Chandigarh H. Rajesh Prasad
- Additional Chief Secretary to the Governor, Punjab Vivek Pratap Singh and Director General of Police, Punjab Gaurav Yadav
- Vice-chancellors, chairpersons of boards and corporations, doctors, journalists, industrialists and other eminent citizens
| Category | Representative attendees |
|---|---|
| State leaders | S. Bhagwant Singh Mann; Shri Nayab Singh Saini |
| Governors | Gulab Chand Kataria; Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh |
| Bureaucracy & Police | K. A. P. Sinha; H. Rajesh Prasad; Vivek Pratap Singh; Gaurav Yadav |
| Others | MPs, vice-chancellors, doctors, journalists, industrialists |
Purpose and tone
According to the official account, the reception served as an opportunity for people from diverse fields to come together in the spirit of national unity and camaraderie to celebrate the 80th Independence Day. The Governor welcomed guests and exchanged greetings and pleasantries, the statement said.
These post-ceremonial receptions traditionally allow constitutional and civic leaders to interact informally after the formal flag-hoisting and parade events earlier in the day. The presence of senior civil and police officials underlined the ceremonial as well as administrative dimension of the gathering.
Local administrative presence emphasised
The attendance of the Chief Secretaries of Punjab and UT Chandigarh, along with top police and administrative officers, highlighted the continuing administrative coordination between the state and the Union Territory. Officials present included Punjab Chief Secretary K. A. P. Sinha and UT Chief Secretary H. Rajesh Prasad, the statement said.
Representation from multiple sectors
The Governor’s invitees spanned elected representatives, senior officials, members of the armed forces, academia and professions. The official release noted the presence of vice-chancellors, heads of boards and corporations, doctors, journalists and industrialists among other citizens.
The ceremony in Chandigarh was one of several official gatherings held across Punjab and neighbouring Haryana on Independence Day as leaders and administrators marked the nation’s 80th anniversary, according to the account of the Governor’s office.
Officials present said the reception adhered to established protocol for such gatherings, aiming to provide a platform for formal greetings and exchange of views in a ceremonial setting.
