New Delhi, May 07: Celebration for the 150th year of India's First War of Independence in 1857 kicked off today with a mass rally from Meerut.

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mani Shankar Aiyar flagged off the Delhi March from Meerut by an over 10,000 strong contingent at the Kranti Park in Meerut this morning, Manipur Information Centre reports.

Comprising participants from far-off areas including Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar and Jammu and Kashmir, the marchers followed a special team of 85 army personnel who were horseback.

Covering around 80 km from Meerut to Delhi, the rally will pass through Modinagar, Muradnagar and Gaziabad.

The inaugural function of the year-long commemoration will be held at the historic Red Fort in the capital on May 11.President APJ Abdul Kalam, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as well as various political leaders including for Prime Ministers will attend the ceremony at Red Fort.

An hour-long colourful mega cultural programme will be a highlight of the inaugural function of the anniversary.

Sixty-two Pung (drum) players and 40 martial arts artistes from Manipur will perform Pung Cholom and ThangTa show.

The Deputy Director of North East Zonal Cultural Centre, Dimapur M.Senti Ao who accompanied the artistes from North East States said that Manipur's cultural team is the biggest team from North East.

Fourteen Sumi tribe artistes from Nagaland will perform work dance, 21 Garo tribe artistes from Meghalaya will show Wangla dance and seven conch blowers from Assam will perform their best show, he added.

About 1500 artistes from all corners of the country have already arrived here for their performance at the occasion.

All the artistes have been rehearsing daily throughout the days at Indira Gandhi Stadium here since May 2 last under the Chief Choreographer Rajeev Sethi, the Chairman of the Asian Heritage Foundation.

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