Mumbai, Aug 15 (IANS): Maharashtra on Tuesday celebrated the 71st Independence Day with patriotic fervor though the commemorations were marred due to heavy rains that lashed some parts of the state including Mumbai and the coastal Konkan region.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis unfurled the national flag at his residence and near Mantralaya, while his ministerial colleagues were scheduled to attend flag-hoisting ceremonies in districts.

Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu Governor C.V. Rao this year spent the day in Chennai where he would be taking part in various Independence Day functions, a Raj Bhavan official said.

There were solemn flag-hoisting functions organised at the Bombay High Court, headquarters of the Central Railway, Western Railway and Konkan Railway, civic headquarters and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

The tricolour was also hoisted amid singing of the National Anthem in schools, colleges, housing complexes, various state and central government offices, private companies, district collectorates, villages, social and cultural organisations, corporate offices and others.

A variety of special events to mark Independence Day have been scheduled all over the state and Mumbai during the course of the day.