Chandigarh, Aug 15 (IANS): From border areas in Punjab adjoining Pakistan to towns and cities across Punjab and Haryana, the 69th Independence Day was celebrated in the region on Saturday.

Border Security Force (BSF) troopers celebrated the occasion with the hoisting of the national flag and brief ceremonies at the Attari and Hussainiwala check-posts in Punjab's border districts of Amritsar and Ferozepur respectively.

Events were also held by the BSF at various border out posts (BoPs) along Punjab's 553-km long international border with Pakistan.

No exchange of sweets took place between the BSF and their Pakistani counterparts at the Attari-Wagah joint check post, 30 km from Amritsar.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal unfurled the national flag at Mohali, adjoining Chandigarh.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, sporting a saffron headgear (pagri) and a saffron half jacket, hoisted the flag in the historic town of Kurukshetra, about 100 km from here.

Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki unfurled the flag in Panchkula town, adjoining Chandigarh.