It was supposed to be an event for the public but there was hardly anybody to cheer on the participants as the Beijing Olympic torch relay was held along the historic Rajpath in New Delhi on Thursday.
With a heavy security blanket in place, common people were kept away from the event, which gave an impression of a formality being conducted amid dominating presence of police personnel and officials.
"Light the passion, Share the Dream," proclaimed the banners of the buses of Olympic organisers that criss-crossed the Rajpath, but there was hardly any public to associate with the slogan.
The lush green flanks of the 2.3 km route, from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate, had only the presence of hordes of police personnel keeping a vigil to prevent any disruption of the programme.
Even several media persons, who had been given special I-cards by the Indian Olympic Association, were not allowed to cover the programme freely as they were kept away from the starting and culminating point of the relay.