'Vande Mataram' sung at many institutions marking centenary

Chennai, Sep 7 (UNI) 'Vande Mataram' was sung with patriotic fervour at many educational institutions in Tamil Nadu to mark the centenary of the national song's composition.

The world famous Marina beach reverberated with the song, kindling the national spirit, as thousands of school students, drawn from various city schools, assembled near the Gandhi statue on the beach front and recited 'Vande Mataram' in unison.

Though the Tamil Nadu Government had announced that the singing of song was not mandatory in schools and colleges, children of several Government schools in the city joined the chorus at the stroke of 11 in the morning.

However, Vande Mataram was not sung in Muslims-run institutions in the city.

The Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated the centenary of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's song at 'Kamalalayam', the party headquarters here. Similar celebrations were organised by the party across the state.

The Hindu Munnani also organised programmes to recite 'Vande Mataram' at public places all over the state.

Reports from Erode, Tiruchirapalli, Thanjavur and Madurai said the national song was sung at many educational institutions.

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