New Delhi:
Swaying to the tunes of "Vande Mataram", 2,010 school children from Delhi entranced the audience as they formed the Ashoka Chakra, the national emblem, at the centre of the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium during the grand closing ceremony.
The children, dressed in white outfits with coloured capes and Nehru caps, took positions to form a rangoli pattern on the field.
Performers holding coloured powder dispensers sprinkled the colours of the Indian flag on the children, signifying the festival of Holi with a touch of patriotism.
The children then formed the Ashoka Chakra in the centre of the rangoli pattern.
"Vande Mataram", the national song, means 'I pay homage to my mother' and is a poem by Bankimchandra Chatterjee.
The six-minute segment was called 'Tribute to Motherland'.
MILITARY MUSIC ENTHRALLS AUDIENCE AT CWG CLOSUREThousands of people cheered and whistled as massed military bands enthralled the audience at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium with their repertoire of rousing marches at the closing ceremony.
The 650 musicians, comprising 14 brass bands and 17 pipes and drums, were drawn from various regiments and formations of the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force.
Marching in perfect unison, they wove intricate patterns on the field of play, ranging from stars to triangles to circles playing such well-loved marches like "Vijay Bharat", "India Gate", "Deshon ka Sartaj Bharat", "Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja" and "Jai Jai Bharti", rounding off their routine with the eternal favourite "Sare Jahan Se Achcha".
15,000 CWG VOLUNTEERS TAKE CENTRESTAGE Running to the tunes of the latest Indian Railways ad, the 15,000 volunteers took the centrestage Thursday at the closing ceremony.
They received loud cheers from the packed stadium as they took part in the athletes parade segment of the ceremony.
Commonwealth Games Federation chief Michael Fennel was among the many who have hailed the role of the volunteers -- young boys and girls -- in the successful conduct of the Games.
ACE SHOOTER GAGAN NARANG IS STANDARD BEARER Rifle shooter Gagan Narang, who emerged as the best Indian athletes with four gold medals, was given the honour to carry the national flag during the athletes' parad.
Another shooter, Olympic gold winner Abhinav Bindra, was given the honour of carrying the Indian flag and led the country's contingent at the opening ceremony on Oct 3.
MARTIAL ARTISTS ENTHRALL AUDIENCES AT CWG CLOSING Martial artists from across the country left the audiences agape with their multiple disciplines.
The 14-minute sequence comprised of combat art from all corners of the country, including Kalaripayattu, Thang-Tha, Gatka, Silambam, Akhada, Dhan Patta and Talwaar Raas. Tribal martial arts from Naga warriors was also showcased in a synchornised manner at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Moving in circular motions before dispersing in trajectories, the artists showcased different skills with fire, swords and other arms.
The jam-packed audience was left spellbound as they watched grappling skills and the adroit use of spears, wooden sticks, shields and axes.
The real life images reflected on the helium aerostat - the world's largest helium balloon - floating above the ground at the stadium.