The big Navy exhibition

KOCHI: Hordes of school children, accompanied by teachers, walking in lines was the scene at the Naval base on Friday. Students from numerous schools around the city from Ist to XII classes all seemed much happy to take this much welcome educational tour. No one seemed to care about the scorching sun. There were long queues to see the warships and aircraft at the 'Navy Fest'The fest organised by INS Venduruthy that goes on till Sunday, Dec 11 aims to acquaint the average Kochiite about many aspects about the Indian Navy.The fest offers a rare opportunity for visitors to visit warships. This year three to four ships have been opened for the public that have come from other naval bases for the programme. INS Kesari, the Shardul class amphibious warfare vessel and INS Karmuk, the Shardul class landing ship are among them. Also navy aircraft are part of the fest.The children present were naturally much awes by the real ships, aircraft and other armed force equipment they could see from such close quarters. “I have only seen warships and war ammunition in films. Seeing warships for real is amazing,” said Nishad B, a 10th std student. Apart from that, 13 naval stalls have been put up by Gunnery and Missile Training School, Navigational Directional School, Signal School and many more where in models of torpedoes, shells, life rafts, navigators, telescopes and the like have been displayed. The working of the machineries is also explained to the people coming for the fest.One of the highlights of the exhibition is a Military Photo Exhibition where the best snapshots of the armed forces taken by various media photographers are exhibited.