Islamabad: Patriotic fervour and traditional gaiety marked the 54th Republic Day celebrations in Indian embassies across the world, even as Indo-Pak tensions cast a shadow over the celebrations in Pakistan this time.

In view of the prevailing diplomatic tensions the celebrations were a low key affair in Pakistan with the Indian High Commission not hosting the public reception for the second year in succession.

The small Indian diplomatic community was led by Charge d'Affaires Sudhir Vyas, who unfurled the national tricolour and read President A P J Abdul Kalam's address at the High Commission in Islamabad.

The children of the staff of the High Commission, which has been cut short over the past one year after New Delhi recalled its High commissioner following the attack on Parliament, sang the national anthem and patriotic songs.

Janata Party president Dr Subramanian Swamy and his party colleague and former Karnataka Education Minister Subbiah Shetty, who are in Pakistan, also attended the flag hoisting ceremony.

In Russia, hundreds of Moscow-based Indian families gathered at the Indian embassy for the flag hoisting ceremony to mark the occasion.

After reading President A P J Abdul Kalam's address to the nation, Indian ambassador to Russia, K Raghunath, greeted his compatriots and urged them to preserve the unity in diversity. The day was also celebrated with great enthusiasm by Indians in other former Soviet Republic capitals, including Kiev, Tashkent and Dushanbe.

PTI