Date:18/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/18/stories/2006111820170300.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Navy Day fete planned in big way

Staff Reporter

Only schoolchildren will be permitted into Naval Base

CELEBRATION TIME: Commanding Officer of INS Venduruthy Commodore A.T. Lucose announcing details of the programmes of the Navy Day celebrations at the Ernakulam Press Club on Friday. Photo: Vipin Chandran

KOCHI : The Southern Naval Command will celebrate this year's Navy Day in a different way, by reaching out to the public.

Medical camps, football matches and band displays are among the events that will be organised in different parts of the State from November 19 to December 9. Only schoolchildren will be allowed entry to the Naval Base, to see ships on December 6 and 7, as organised groups. The customary operational display of the Navy's prowess will not be held this year. With the Surya Kiran aircraft busy elsewhere, Kochiites will miss the opportunity to witness their spectacular aerobic display. `Beating-the-retreat' ceremony will be held at the Base on December 4 (Navy Day) and the Navy Ball on December 9. Navy Day is observed to commemorate missile boats of Indian Navy bombarding Karachi harbour in the 1971 war with Pakistan, which played a crucial part in India emerging victorious.

Addressing presspersons at the Ernakulam Press Club on Friday, Commanding Officer of INS Venduruthy Commodore A.T. Lucose said the Navy preferred to reach out to the public considering the safety of thousands of people who regularly visited the Base during the Navy Week celebrations. "The Base has been declared out of bound for visitors, considering the prevailing security situation in the country, particularly relating to defence establishments. Things will hopefully be different next year," he said. The Navy is focusing on health, sports and entertainment. Four medical camps have been planned at Ezhimala, Chellanam, Eramaloor and Kollam. A football championship will be held in Fort Kochi. Organised by INS Dronacharya, prominent district-level clubs registered with the Ernakulam Football Association will participate in the matches.

The tournament will be conducted on a knock-out basis. The winning team will get the newly-instituted Dronacharya Trophy and cash prizes, said Mr. Lucose. Band displays have been planned in the Durbar Hall Ground on November 25 evening and in Vasco Da Gama Square, Fort Kochi, on December 9. Various kinds of music will be played at the band. Teachers bringing schoolchildren (uniform is must) to see the ships must report at the Travancore Gate (main gate) of the Naval Base, for guidance. Entry is free for children.