Navy Day to be celebrated

KOCHI: Navy Day 2011 will be celebrated with the theme ‘Safe seas and secure coasts for a strong nation’.  The Navy Day, on December 4, will be celebrated with an array of programmes and initiatives by the Southern Naval Command. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will be the chief guest at the Operational Demonstration to be organised on November 27. As part of the celebrations, the Naval Institute of Aeronautical Technology (NIAT) will conduct community service at Good Hope Old Age Home in Fort Kochi from November 24 to 26. The service includes sprucing up the area and maintenance along with providing the inmates with lunch. The Navy Children School choir will participate in entertaining the elderly inmates at Good Hope. Naval doctors from INHS Sanjivani will conduct a medical checkup for the inmates.There will be an Operational Demonstration showcasing various facets of Naval operations at Rajendra Maidan on November 27.  It will be visible from Priyadarshini Park and Subhash Park. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will be the chief guest. Marine Commando Sky Divers will conduct practice jumps from November 25 onwards at Ernakulathappan grounds and Rajendra Maidan.  Naval officials asked the residents not to throw food and other garbage near Rajendra Maidan to ensure that Naval aircraft participating in the fly-past are not endangered by birds. The Beating Retreat ceremony will take place on December 4, Navy Day. Navy Ball and the Navy Queen contest will be held on December 5.  The Navy Fest will be held from December 9 to 11. The fest will be an opportunity for residents to visit the Naval Base.  The fest will have food stalls, amusement rides, games and naval models. Also naval warships and aircraft will be open to visitors. Another major attraction will be a military photo exhibition by  photojournalists.