It's houseful: Tickets for Parade sold out

NEW DELHI: Vishwa Dev, an autorickshaw driver, was excited about watching the parade from India Gate lawns. He said he would bring not only his family and friends but also most of his neighbours.He bought 16 tickets for the Republic Day celebrations after having already bought 20 other tickets a day before. Terror threats notwithstanding, people seem to be excited about becoming part of the celebrations as our republic turns 60 on Tuesday.And 50-year-old Devis not an exception. Students, businessmen, professionals, housewives andtourists flocked the nine counters selling tickets for the R-Day parade. Sincethe tickets were on sale since January 7, most tickets were sold out by Mondaywith only the ones for Rs 10 being available on the last day."Noneof our counters is left with any ticket for Rs 300, Rs 150 or Rs 50. People fromall strata and regions are buying the tickets. Though sale figures are notavailable as of now, we seem to have made a record-breaking sale this year,"said Sanjay Kumar from the ministry of defence who was manning one of the ticketcounters on Monday.Kumar's claims were corroborated by the zealdisplayed by people lining up to buy whatever tickets available on Monday. Devsaid, "January 26 is a holiday. Watching the parade is the best way to make mostof the day. This time, all my neighbours had asked me to get the tickets." As hehails from Bihar, the tableaux from his state is something he eagerly looksforward to see. The excitement at the ticket counter was such that even the highsecurity did not make any difference.Uma Rani from Tamil Nadu, whois preparing for IAS, plans to be present at the India Gate lawns with hermother though her father is unwilling."My dad doesn't want us tovisit the India Gate as he feared that a terror attack may happen. But it wasnothing doing for me. I just bought the tickets without letting him know," Umablushed. "I will be watching the parade from the India Gate lawns for the firsttime. I don't want to miss it," she added.Another woman, who hadcome to the India Gate ticket counter in a chauffeur-driven car, however, didnot like the idea of purchasing tickets to see her own country's celebrations."It's strange. Why do we need tickets to be a part of the Republic Daycelebrations? It's my own country. This will keep the poor away," she saidbefore stomping off to her car. Considering their enthusiasm, it's clear thatthe India Gate lawns will reverberate with joy and cheer on Tuesday. After all,January 26 is not just a holiday!