Watch: Spectacular drone show on Netaji at India Gate

New Delhi, Sep 09: A total of 250 drones lit up the night sky over India Gate complex on Friday showcasing the life and legacy of freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose and celebrating the newly-unveiled grand statue of Netaji. The show started around 8.35 pm and lasted for 10 minutes.

The drones took to air in phases and made eight different formations, including 'Jai Hind', Netaji's portrait and 'Grand statue of Netaji'.

"A total of 250 drones will be used, and the last formation will be of the new grand statue unveiled by the Prime Minister on Thursday.

People tried to capture the moments on their mobile phone cameras, some moved around while many lay on the lawns to enjoy it. Earlier, as dusk fell over the skyline of Central Vista, a team of engineers and technicians were busy hooking up the connection in a grid of drones that was assembled in a lawn near the India Gate.

"Witnessed a spellbinding drone show organized by @MinOfCultureGoI at the iconic India Gate. The magnificent aerial drone show paid tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose & was accompanied by a cultural fest featuring over 500 folk & tribal artists from across India #AmritMahotsav," Union Minister of State for Culture Meenakshi Lekhi said in a tweet and shared a few pictures from the show. She also asked people to witness the show. "Do visit India Gate between 9-11th September to enjoy this captivating drone show on the life of Netaji Bose," she said in another tweet.

The 28-ft-tall statue was carved out of a monolith block of jet black granite stone, sourced from a quarry in Telangana and a "makeshift road" had to be built to move it to a highway for transporting it to Delhi. A team of sculptors spent 26,000 man hours of "intense artistic endeavour" to carve the grand statue of Bose, according to the Ministry of Culture.