NEW DELHI: Thousands of Indians started a march on Monday to mark the 150th anniversary of a bloody revolt against British colonial rulers that shook the empire, organisers said.

The rally, to be joined by thousands more marchers, was seen off by Indian sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyar in the northern garrison town of Meerut, about 80 kilometres from New Delhi, where the uprising known as the Indian Mutiny started.

Participants will retrace the steps of Indian soldiers who marched from Meerut to capture Delhi, where grand celebrations are planned at the historic 17th century Red Fort built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

“There will be cultural programmes and talks on the way to spread the message of national integration,” said Sunil Malik, an official of the government youth body that organised the march.

Led by mounted cavalry and accompanied by ambulances, the marchers sang patriotic songs. The revolt -- known in India as the First War of Independence -- was spurred by rumours that the British were introducing bullets greased with cow and pig fat, which upset both Hindus and Muslims for religious reasons.

The British crushed the revolt after four months, captured Delhi and exiled the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar to Rangoon, (now the Myanmar city of Yangon) where he died in captivity five years later.

The revolt ended the British East India Company's rule in India, making way for direct rule by the British government till 1947, when the country gained independence.—AFP