A grand welcome for Queen’s Baton

Marking a beginning to the 100-day countdown to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, the Queen’s Baton received a grand welcome on entering India from Pakistan, through the Wagah border, on Friday morning.
Suresh Kalmadi, president, Indian Olympic Association, flanked by Shera, mascot for the Delhi Games, received the baton from Lt Gen Arif Hassan, official of Pakistan Olympic Federation at the border around 9.30am, amid loud cheers from the spectators from both the countries.
The enthusiasm of the crowd gathered on both sides of the border was high, as people started pouring in from 6.30 am onwards. Approximately 5000 people gathered at the border to witness the historic moment. The border gates were beautifully decorated with marigold flowers, and a special stage was set up, for the northern zone cultural centre to perform. There were tight security checks at every corner, with the BSF guards keeping a close watch at the border gates.
Gracing the occasion was the chief minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit along with her daughter Latika. Addressing the crowd at the ceremony, she said, I feel proud that Delhi will be hosting such a mega sporting event for the first time in India. Also present at the occasion were Preneet Kaur, minister of state for external affairs; Mike Fennel, president, CGF; Prakash Singh Badal, chief minister of Punjab; Shivraj Patil, governor of Punjab; Suleman Taseer, governor of Punjab, Pakistan; Indian boxer Vijender Singh; Indian woman boxer Mary Kom, amongst others.
The event started off with the Aman Ki Asha programme where school children from both the countries hand painted handkerchief carrying message of peace and harmony by both the countries. Folk artistes from Punjab, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh performed to set the mood for the occasion, while Wadali brothers and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan enthralled the audience with their soulful renderings to celebrate the arrival of the baton to the host country. The cultural program concluded with a high on energy jugalbandi by the Wadali brothers and Rahat Fateh Ali on the song Duma Dum Mast Kalandar that left the audience spellbound.
The event also saw the inauguration of Commonwealth Games express train exhibition at Amritsar railway station by Suresh Kalmadi. The baton relay, which started at 5pm, reached the Company Bagh at 6.30pm where it was put for public display. Later it was taken to Golden temple and Durgiana temple.