Several organisations in Shivamogga have joined hands under the banner “Sankalpa Shivamogga” to celebrate Independence Day on Friday night at Gopi Circle in the city, with music and other cultural events.

C.S. Shadakshari, State president of the Karnataka State Government Employees’ Association, addressing a press conference in Shivamogga on Wednesday, said the programme would begin at 9 p.m. that day with the State anthem and conclude with the national anthem at midnight. In between, there will be several programmes, including felicitation of soldiers.

“A team of singers will present patriotic songs. We will be inviting elected representatives for the programme. However, there will be no stage. We are organising the programme on the principle that ‘nobody is important and nobody is unimportant’. We have designed the programme to give the audience a unique experience,” he said.

Representatives of the Rotary Club, Stadium Walkers’ Association, journalists’ forums, Shivamogga Advocates’ Association, Chamber of Commerce and Industries, and several other organisations have joined hands for the programme, he added.