In a significant development in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, thousands of people after a gap of two decades, thronged to witness the 77th Independence Day celebrations at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar yesterday. The authorities had done away with restrictions on the movement of people this year, which used to be imposed in the past in view of security reasons.  

Carrying the national flag, men and women of all ages filled the stands in the Bakshi Stadium while a significant number of children could also be seen in the Stadium. This was the largest gathering of civilians at the Stadium for an Independence Day function since 2003 when an estimated 20,000 people had witnessed the parade. The atmosphere wore a festive look as many people clicked selfies in the stands to mark the occasion. Many schools were open in the city early for flag hoisting ceremonies while shops too were catering to people in some areas of the city including Lal Chowk, 

However security forces were deployed in adequate numbers to ensure law and order, and traffic was moving freely in most parts of the city with only random checking of vehicles done by security forces at some places close to Bakshi Stadium, the venue of the main function in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Mobile and internet services, which used to be suspended on 15th  August and 26th  January in Kashmir, were also not interrupted for the third year in a row.