Jamshedpur, Dec. 5: They had seen it only in television serials and films.

Today the children got to see real fighting equipment. And they were the most inquisitive visitors at the exhibition.

The display of weapons, guns, cannons, tanks and sniper rifles at the Army ground near the Circuit House area, was a huge crowdpuller today.

The little visitors, escorted by their parents, spent the day going through the display with keen interest.

Some enjoyed going inside the three-odd 125 mm smooth bore tanks while others spent time looking through the telescopes used during wars to watch the movement of enemies.

The inquisitive children were full of questions about the weapons and equipment on display.

The signal receiving system and the armoured tanks attracted a lot of attention and invited lots of questions.

The weapon and equipment display is part of Banwat Day celebrations.

Banwat is a title conferred on the regiment for the defensive battle of Poonch on the night of December 3-4, 1971. The celebrations are held every year to commemorate the sacrifice and deeds of the soldiers of the regiment who fought the war.

The brave soldiers of the regiment fought with valour to push back the offensive of the Pakistanis.

Among the displayed items were the 125 smooth bore tanks.

The weapon also display boasts of 7.62 mm Dragunov sniper rifle, 130 mm gun with shells and fuse, mine shoes and detection equipment, 51 mm mortar, grenade launcher, 84 mm rocket launcher and anti-tank guided missile.

The soldiers of the Cockeral Division, Ranchi helped the children to know more about the weapons.

Charts were displayed giving information about the weapons. Most of the weapons were transported to Ranchi by special trucks.

?The civilians are rarely able to see such a big display of weapons. The aim of the huge display is to help the public know about the weapons with which the soldiers safeguard the borders of the country,? an official of the artillery regiment said.

The artillery regiment here extended their two-day exhibition as today was a Sunday. The exhibition was supposed to conclude yesterday.

But an extension saw a huge crowd of people thronging the ground.

?The display was mean for Friday and Saturday. But we decided to extend it by another day as people usually are free on Sundays. We are happy with the huge flow of visitors at the exhibition,? the official added.

The celebration will conclude tomorrow evening with a barakhana, said the official at the exhibition.

Major General Dalip Bhardwaj, general officer commanding, Cockeral Division and Col. Jagpal Singh, who commands the artillery regiment here, attended the grand function with their families.

Apart from the weapons and equipment display, the two-day function saw sainik sammelan, family welfare meet, honouring of war widows and heroes and international sportspersons as part of the Banwat Day celebrations.

Among the felicitated persons at the function, a 95-year-old Chaibasa-based soldier was also honoured.

The proud recipient came all the way from Chaibasa to attend the function.