The legendary Nightingale of India, Lata Mangeshkar honoured with Bharat Ratna in 2001. Besides Bharat Ratna, Lata Mangeshkar was honoured with Padma Vibhushan in 1999 and the Rajiv Gandhi Award in 1997. The singer had also won three National Awards.
Lone Indian athlete, Arif Khan, carried the national flag as he represented the country at the Parade of Nations at the Beijing Winter Olympics opening ceremony on Friday, February 4.