Kaleidoscopic images of India's rich cultural diversity and its military might unfolded on Friday as the nation celebrated its 58th Republic Day. Here is how the occasion was celebrated across the country:

Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh Governor V S Kokje unfurled the tri-colour and took salute from the marching contingents at the 58th Republic Day parade in Shimla.

At a function at the historic Ridge Maidan, the contingents of Army, different wings of the state police, NCC and ex-Army men thrilled the spectators.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and a host of other state ministers were present on the occasion. A rich variety of cultural programmes, including folk song and dances of Kullu, Kangra, Hamirpur, Solan and Chamba districts were also presented.

Tableaux of different departments rolled down the Maidan, showcasing the progress made by the state government in various fields.

However, the main attraction of the event was a special yoga show presented by a team from Solan district, which delighted a large gathering of people and children.

Punjab

Colourful festivities and the ceremonial march past marked the 58th Republic Day celebrations in Punjab, Haryana and union territory of Chandigarh.

The occasion was marked by colourful march past by personnel from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh police and cultural programmes presented by schoolchildren. While Punjab Governor Gen (Retd) S F Rodrigues and his Haryana counterpart A R Kidwai unfurled the tri-colour at Mohali and Nuh in Mewat district respectively, Punjab Chief

Minister Amarinder Singh and Chief Minister of Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda took the salute at Ludhiana and Faridabad.

However, no untoward incident was reported from any part of the region as the celebrations passed off peacefully amid tight security apparatus, official sources said. In wake of election model code of conduct imposed in poll-bound state of Punjab, political leaders remained confined to paying tributes to martyrs who sacrificed their lives in freedom struggle.

Assam

In his Republic Day address at an official function in Guwahati, Assam Governor Lt Gen (retd) Ajai Singh said the banned United Liberation Front of Assam had never shown a positive response to the government's peace initiatives through direct talks.

"The ULFA's agreeing to talk through the People's Consultative Group with the government of India in 2005 appears to be motivated. They had actually regrouped and consolidated their weak positions to some extent by taking advantage of the ceasefire during the period of such indirect talks," the Governor said.

For combating insurgency and providing security to the people, the governor said, "A two-pronged strategy had been adopted by the state government -- counter-insurgency measures against militant groups and secondly a peaceful negotiated settlement with willing insurgent groups."

"I would like to reiterate to the people of Assam that the government is determined to put down all kinds of terrorist violence with a firm hand and ensure that everybody irrespective of caste, creed, community, language and religion is able to live in an atmosphere of security and harmony," he assured.

Singh said the killing of many innocent people, including small children and women, by ULFA were still fresh in mind. "Such an act of terrorism is unequivocally condemned as a glaring example of cowardice and barbarism by all sections of people throughout the country," he said.

Nagaland

Nagaland celebrated the nation's 58th Republic Day peacefully with Governor Shyamal Datta calling upon the people for fostering peace and development bring a complete halt to on-going factional hostility.

After unfurling the tri-colour at the civil secretariat ground in Kohima, the Governor, who completes five years in the state on Saturday, said that during these years the Centre and the Naga people had been trying to resolve the long standing Naga political problem in a democratic manner. He, however, said he regretted that factional violence still continued in the state.

The Governor said much progress had been made in the negotiation process and violence could never be an instrument to solve any problem, whether it is a Naga political issue or differences among Naga brothers along factional or tribal lines.

Presentation of an impressive parade, dance and music and tableau by different government departments marked the celebration.

Meghalaya

Governor M M Jacob hoisted the national tri-colour in Shillong before a large number of people who defied the insurgent-sponsored bandh and boycott called by militant outfit HNLC, which hit normal life across the state.

Addressing the gathering, Jacob asked the people of the state to be alert and guard against anti-national forces. He also called for strengthening of governance, decentralisation of power and people's participation.

The programme was marked by colourful march past by IAF, BSF, CRPF, the Assam Regiment of the army, Meghalaya police, home guard, NCC, scouts and guides. It also saw presentation of seven tableaux by various departments of the state.

Mizoram

In his first gubernatorial address to the people of the state after assuming office, Mizoram Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd) Madan Mohan Lakhera said that the state government had not neglected any aspect of development in its mission to make the state one of the most developed ones in the country.

"We have accorded priority to economic self-sufficiency, mitigation of high incidence of unemployment, maintenance of law and order, development of infrastructure for road communication, education, healthcare, provision of safe drinking water, generation of power and industrialization," he said at a ceremony held in Aizawl.

Lakhera asked the people to cooperate with the government in its  efforts to make Mizoram a place where all can live with dignity, peace, prosperity and happiness.

Manipur

Republic Day was celebrated in Manipur amid tight security as normal life was hit by the general strike and boycott called by Manipur People's Liberation Front, an umbrella organisation formed by major insurgent outfits United National Liberation Front, Revolutionary People's Front and People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak.

Governor S S Sidhu unfurled the national flag at the First Manipur Rifles Battalion ground in Imphal. Official sources said security and police forces were deployed at all vulnerable places where patrolling has also been intensified.

Militants have been boycotting the day's celebrations for the past several years.

Orissa

Amid tight security, Orissa celebrated the country's 58th Republic Day with the Governor Rameswar Thakur unfurling the tricolour at the state-level Republic Day function held in Bhubaneswar.

After hoisting the flag, Thakur took the salute at the ceremonial march past. A large crowd assembled to witness the proceedings as armed police guarded the route and nearby areas.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unfurled the national flag at the official function held at the Barabati stadium at Cuttack while Rural Development Minister Biswabhushan Harichandan took the salute at Puri.

Contingents of the 120 infantry battalion, CRPF, CISF, Railway Protection Force, 6th and 7th battalion of OSAP, armed police reserve, armoured cars, fire brigade, senior and junior divisions of NCC, school and college students and medal winners participated in the parade.

Kerala

Kerala Governor R L Bhatia unfurled the tri-colour at the central stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.

In his address, Bhatia expressed concern over the incidents of farmers' suicide in the state and said that government should come out with appropriate policies to help farmers.

Policies in agriculture on productivity and prices, credit and marketing should be the priority before any government and it was a shame to any civilized society that farmers have to end their lives in distress, he said.

Lauding the achievements made by the state in the last 50 years in social, educational, healthcare and cultural fields, he said on the economic front 'state still has miles to go.'

Bhatia said government should take steps to harness the vast potential of resources of non resident Keralities who could contribute a good deal to the all round development of the state. There was a deep gap between state's immense potential and real performances, he said.

Contingents including Army, Air force, CRPF, CISF, Railway Protection Force, Kerala police, fire force, NCC and students from differnet schools took part in the parade. Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan was among those present on the occasion.

Karnataka

Describing corruption as a 'dirty act,' Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi, during his Republic Day address at Field Marshal Maneckshaw grounds in Bangalore, cited the need to have a policy of 'zero tolerance' towards all acts of corruption.

"We need to assert that there is no difference between a small act of corruption and major instances of malfeasance. There's is no such thing as petty corruption -- there is corruption, per se," he said.

It is necessary to strike at the very roots of corruption. Corruption in any walk of life can annihilate our democratic system, Chaturvedi warned.

He said the state was faced with two threats, that of naxalism and the creeping anti-national activities by external enemies, who want to create political and economic chaos in the country besides inflicting communal strife and social dissensions in the society.

Referring to the terror attack on the Indian Institute of Science in December 2005, the Governor said a good deal of information has become available to us on the 'mischievous intentions and efforts of these external enemies who are trying to surreptitiously win sympathy of some gullible individuals.'

The ceremonial parade was marked by march past by various contingents, including the Air Force, BSF, CRPF and CISF, followed by school bands and cultural programmes reinforcing the Indian edifice of 'unity in diversity.'

The grand finale was an exquisite display of concentration, bravery, agility and flexibility through 'Mallakhambh' by the 237 year-old Maratha Light Infantry.

Tamil Nadu

Colourful festivities and the ceremonial march past marked the 58th Republic Day celebrations.

Tamil Nadu Governor S S Barnala unfurled the national tri-colour near the Gandhi Thidal at the Marina Beach in Chennai, which saw both cultural groups, school and college students presenting a carnival before a huge crowd.

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi gave away Jeevan Raksha Padak award to Maria Leo Shajan, a standard VII student of Kanyakumari district, for saving the lives of four children of his village, during the tsunami.

He also presented the Anna medal for gallantry to two civilians, posthumously, for their acts of bravery and the Gandhi Adigal police medal to three police personnel in appreciation of their outstanding work in curtailing illicit liquor.

The Kottai Ameer communal harmony award instituted in the name of a Muslim leader, who strove to promote communal harmony, went to Vincent Abubakkar posthumously.

As many as 19 government departments presented tableaux of their performances during the past eight months of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam rule, displaying a pageantry of floats, which listed out the various freebie schemes implemented by this government.

While two Indian coast guard helicopters showered flower petals on the venue, six Indian Air Force Aircrafts flew past.

Pondicherry

Lt Governor Mukut Mithi unfurled the national flag and took salute at a march past. He also presented medals for extraordinary services on the occasion.

Chief Minister Rangasamy later unfurled the national flag in the assembly premises.