Mexican Independence Day was celebrated as usual with a two-day affair on Sept. 15-16, but some reports reveal it was a less-than-perfect celebration at the nation's capital.

President Enrique Peña Nieto marked the 204th anniversary of Mexican independence by leading the midnight shout of "Viva Mexico!" and leading a parade with members of the military and law enforcement the next day.

About 22,000 members of the army, air force and navy were at the event in Mexico City's giant Zocalo square, along with 157 military vehicles, 13 naval vessels, 44 airplanes and 24 helicopters, Fox Latino reported.

But the attendees at the square, along with a flag mishap tainted the festivities, in addition to reports of paid audience members by Mexican media.

VICE reported that children received pat-downs at the plaza, and many of the attendees were citizens paid by political parties and bussed in to boost numbers at government-sponsored events and demonstrations.

Nieto has had the lowest approval rating in two years, and the crowd brought in was to help shield that fact. But another notable disaster came when, as he watched the flag raising on Sept. 16, the flag unsnapped from its pole and fell.

Soldiers quickly recovered the flag and hoisted it, but the incident could be seen as a sign nonetheless.

Soon after the raising of the flag, the president wasted no time in hurrying off to La Paz on the Baja California peninsula in order to aid people in the rebuilding of infrastructure following the devastation by Hurricane Odile, Fox Latino reported.

But that hasn't been in the news as much as the disaster celebration.

People were also angered over the pat-downs of children in the square.

"You don't frisk children," well-known social activist Daniel Gershenson told VICE News. "If we don't put a stop to this, it will become the precedent, and we'll see babies groped and abused by the authorities at all public events."

But commissioner of national security Monte Alejandro Rubido said, "Maybe it caused some uncomfortable situations, but the goal was to guarantee the general well-being of those attending the event."