Though Jayalalithaa did not make it to the customary event this year, she had attended the reception in previous years including last year.
Earlier in the day, the chief minister had remained seated while delivering her Independence Day speech.
On the occasion, Rosaiah released tri-colour balloons marking Independence Day celebrations and cultural programmes, including Bharathanatyam and classical Manipuri dance, were held, an official release from Raj Bhavan said.
The reception was attended by Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha and senior AIADMK leader M Thambidurai, Speaker of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly P Dhanapal, former Governors of West Bengal, Gopal Krishna Gandhi and M K Narayanan, former Governor of Odisha M M Rajendran and ministers, it said.