CHANDIGARH: The SAARC Car Rally reached the green and serene environs of the City Beautiful to a very traditional welcome amid the Chandigarh Police Band playing the song, "Sare Jahan Se Achha"

An august gathering of eminent citizens and the local administration. UT Finance Secretary, S.K. Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner, R. K. Rao, ADC  I.S. Sandhu, Director Tourism,  Vivek Atray, Deputy Director General, CII,  Ajay Khanna, Regional Director, CII Northern Region,  Sujith Haridas and other senior  UT Administration and CII officials welcomed the SAARC Car rally at UT Guest House here today. After the night halt, the Rally would proceed to Pakistan via Wagah Border tomorrow after a ceremonial flag off by  Gen. (Retd) S. F. Rodrigues, Governor Punjab and Administrator U T Chandigarh at the Open Hand Monument,Capital Complex.
 
Later, the calm surroundings of the Sukhna Lake Club came alive with the cultural extravaganza with which the rallyists were treated at the Lake Club. The captivating songs and amazingly synchronised and colourful Bhangra dance formations, almost spell bound the participants. For most of the participants, it was their first exposure to the rich culture and heritage of Punjab and the other northern states and they enjoyed every moment of it. 

The rally was already behind schedule, but such was the love and affection displayed by the people on the way that the rallyists just couldn't help stepping out of their vehicles and mingling with the crowd.            

There were elderly women clapping as enthusiastically as school children, and there were grandfathers cheering with gay abandon, their grand children in tow. The rally was allowed to proceed only after much hand shaking, hugging and drum-beating.

The rally reached Chandigarh in the evening after covering a distance of about 225 km, accepting greetings from waiting crowds at every single village on the route. Tomorrow, the rally will resume its northward journey at 7.00 am. The target is to drive 250 km to enter Pakistan at Wagah Border.