Across the globe, there are several nations that celebrate Republic and Independence Days. India however has always attracted attention owing to the grandeur of the celebration and the swelling sense of patriotism that accompanies it. We have always heard about the rich cultural heritage of India, but the history in fact is as splendid as its beauty.
26th January, the Republic Day of India is not only a day that commemorates the formation of a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic, there’s a lot more to Republic Day.
It was on 26th January 1950 that the draft of the Indian constitution submitted by the committee headed by Dr B.R Ambedkar came into effect, though it was actually adopted on 26th November 1949. On the same day, Dr Rajendra Prasad started his term as the first President of India. The Constituent Assembly became the Parliament of India under provisions of the new Constitution. It is a monumental day that celebrates not just the new beginnings but stands as a reminder of the great sacrifices made during the long freedom struggle. The struggle of almost 90 years to break free from a dominion lasted for over 200 years. The Republic Day hence stands for all of that and more.
The celebration itself begins on the 23rd of January, ‘Parakram Diwas,’ the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. The 3-day celebration ends with the ‘Beating Retreat’ which stands for soldiers returning to their base.
26th January is a National Holiday and is celebrated with great fervour each year. The main celebration is held at the national capital, New Delhi at the Rajpath, in the presence of the President, Prime minister, and many high-ranking officials of India and telecasted nationwide. The highlights of the commemoration include paying homage at Amar Jawan Jyoti and the parade carried out to pay respect to the brave souls who gave away their lives for the freedom of the country. The Republic Day parade or the ceremonial parade usually starts from Raisina Hills and goes through Rajpath, India Gate till Red Fort. Each year the celebration follows a central theme and tableaus from different states grace the grounds. The show-stealers each year is the parade by the Indian Military, the Army, Air Force and Navy.
So, if this has sparked your interest, do check out the live feed of the flag hoisting ceremony and the parade that showcases India’s defence, cultural abilities, cultural and social heritage on the 26th of January.
On this Republic Day, we celebrate with our teams in India and wish them and every Indian, a Happy Republic Day.
