Independence Day celebrations in the city promise to be grand this year. Gandhi Maidan, the venue of the main I-Day event, has been decked up for the ceremonial parade. Raj Bhavan, given a fresh lick of paint, adorns decorative lights. Tricolour, wristbands and caps can be spotted in almost every second shop. Workstations and schools sport Tricolour balloons. Piyush Kumar Tripathi presents a ready reckoner for the I-Day celebrations
Show time
Spectators should reach Gandhi Maidan by 8.30am for the event to start at 8.45am. Chief minister Nitish Kumar is scheduled to reach the venue at 8.52am
Weather check
The Patna Met office has forecast overcast conditions along with possibility of brief thundershowers. Easterly winds will blow at an average speed around of 10-12kmph
Car park
The eastern part of Gandhi Maidan, in front of Udyog Bhavan, has been earmarked for parking. However, vehicles have to enter through the southern gates in front of RBI Building and Twin Towers
Programme duration
Expected to continue for around an hour
Attractions
March past by personnel of state women’s battalion, special task force (STF), mounted military police, Bihar military police, dog squad and state home guards. The chief minister will decorate police personnel with awards on recommendation of its state headquarters. The STF, assigned to contain Maoist activities, would exhibit its skills. Apart from the tableaux of 12 departments of the state government, a snippet of the Bihar@2025 vision document is likely to be showcased
Security measures
Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Vikas Vaibhav said foolproof security arrangements had been made in the wake of an intelligence alert. Gun-toting security personnel would maintain vigil from high-rises in the vicinity of Gandhi Maidan
Carry rules
Mobiles, umbrellas and water bottles allowed but no binoculars and food packets. Women can carry handbags
Bus & auto availability
Movement of commercial vehicles around Gandhi Maidan prohibited
Roads to avoid
Road from Income Tax roundabout to Kargil Chowk via Fraser Road would be closed from 7am till the end of the I-Day programme. Only vehicles with parking pass issued by the district administration would be allowed on this route. Vehicles coming from Patna Junction to Gandhi Maidan would have to take Exhibition Road
Movies to watch
For hardcore fans of Bolly masala films, Agneepath (2012) director Karan Malhotra is back with Brothers starring Akshay Kumar and Sidharth Malhotra with the sizzling Kareena Kapoor must-watch item number Mera Naam Mary Hai thrown in for good measure. Those looking for something patriotic can opt for Gour Hari Dastaan, a narrative on the real-life account of Gandhian Gour Hari Das. Bajrangi Bhaijaan can be another option for those looking forward to soak in the I-Day fervour
Sip-&-drink
Order a very large pizza (with extra cheese!), brew some masala chai and indulge in a long adda. If you want it the desi way, then nothing can beat a platter of hot jalebi or laddu. Vegetarians can pair it with some crispy fried pakoris and a little hot-and-tangy homemade pickle
Tipple alert: Hope you’ve stocked up with I-Day being a dry day
TV fare
Flag-hoisting ceremony on DD1 from 7am with re-telecast at 10.30am. Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Irfaan Khan’s superhit film Piku (Sony, 8pm) to Salman Khan-starrer Dabangg (STAR Gold at 10.20am).
And for cricket junkies, watch the final innings of the India-Sri Lanka Test match being played at Colombo. On the fourth day, India have to reach the target of 176 runs to win the match. They were 153 away from the target with nine wickets in hand at the stumps on Day 3.
Helpline numbers
PMCH control room: 0612-2300080
Nalanda Medical College and Hospital: 0612-263115
Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences: 0612-3298660
Police control room numbers: 0612-2201975, 0612-2201976, 0612-2201977, 0612-2201978
Patna Women’s police: 9470001390, 9471006592.
Patna SSP: 94318-22967
SP (traffic): 94318-22970
