The Indian Republic Day, which is celebrated on 26th January every year, is remembered as the day when the Indian constitution came into force in 1950. Interestingly, 26th January also marks the anniversary of several other significant events that took place in the history of the country. Like, it was on 26th January 1930 that Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru unfurled the Indian Tricolor in Lahore for the first time and declared an independent Indian National Congress. On the same day, but in the year 1965, Hindi became the official language of India.
With so many events from the past associated with this day, every year, 26th January witnesses an exuberant amount of patriotic sentiment being put on display all over the country. The grandeur of the celebrations is such that it should not be missed by anyone. Therefore, to ascertain that you don’t miss out on anything from the celebrations galore here’s everything you need to know about the places to visit in Delhi to witness Republic Day celebrations.
Observed on 26th January every year, the Republic Day of India is celebrated to honor the day when the Indian constitution was finally enforced. After India gained its independence on 15th August 1947, a drafting committee headed by Dr. BR Ambedkar formulated the constitution of the country. The Indian Constituent Assembly adopted it on November 26, 1949, and it was finally brought into effect on January 26, 1950. With the constitution coming into effect, India finally came out of its transition phase and became an independent republic. It was on 26th January 1930 when Purna Swaraj was announced by the Indian National Congress. Hence, the same day was chosen to bring the constitution into force in 1950. Also, there are various tourist places in Delhi that need to be visited without fail by all travel enthusiasts. There are various weekend getaways from Delhi that need to be visited at least once by all of the hodophiles.
As a part of the Republic Day celebrations, every year parades are organized by the Ministry of Defence in Delhi. The parade starts from Rashtrapati Bhavan while showing the prowess of the Indian Military and the cultural legacy of the country.
Republic Day is celebrated with the same amount of fervor and enthusiasm all over the country. But, to feel the splendor and impressiveness of the event, one must be in Delhi. The most remarkable event of the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi is the parade. It starts at Raisina Hills and covers a 5-kilometer long route covering Rajpath, India Gate, and then moving further down towards the Red Fort.
The beginning of the Republic Day event is marked by the arrival of the President of India, who is accompanied by bodyguards on horsebacks, clad in ceremonial attire. One of the most unmissable moments during the Republic Day celebrations is when the President pays tribute at Amar Jawan Jyoti with a floral wreath to numerous martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country. Amar Jawan Jyoti is a memorial constructed to pay tribute to the soldiers of Indian Armed Forces who laid their lives during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. It is one of the best places to visit in Delhi.
The Indian Tricolor is hoisted by the President of the country on Republic Day at the Red Fort and it is, undoubtedly, the most patriotic moments that anyone with vigorous support for the country can witness. As the President unfurls the flag, the National Anthem plays in the background. It is followed by the iconic 21 Gun Salute and the President’s Bodyguard’s National Salute and that marks the beginning of the celebrations. Much like the Amar Jawaan Jyoti, the Red Fort is also one of the best places to visit in Delhi.
Every year on Republic Day, officials and civilians are honored for their exemplary work towards the country. Bravery awards such as the Ashoka Chakra and the Kriti Chakra are announced and given to officials for showing an immense amount of patriotism towards their country. Bravery awards to civilians, including children, are also given during the ceremony.
The colorful Republic Day Parade is the main attraction for anyone attending the celebrations. At the beginning of the parade, regiments of the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy march past the crowd clad in their uniforms. Post that, every state of the country is depicted during the parade through their prominent cultural heritages. It is a sight to behold to watch over 30 floats displaying the vibrant cultural heritage of every state of the country in the most flawless way. People taking part in the parade are dressed in traditional attires of their states and can be seen performing on the cultural folk music of their region. In addition to this, school children can also be seen performing various cultural dances during the parade.
The Republic Day parade also witnesses some of the most daredevil acts performed by armed forces. It is a thrilling sight to witness various units of the armed forces performing stunts and acrobatics on motorbikes. The Indian Air Force also takes part in these acts with their fighter jets and helicopters. It is a visual treat for the spectators to watch these jets perform stunts mid-air. These acts also mark the end of an eventful day.
For almost six decades, the guest of honor on Republic Day has been the head of the state or government of some other country. The first chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in 1950 was the Indonesian President Sukarno. In 2015, Barack Obama became the guest of honor at Indian Republic Day and he was the first U.S President to do so. In 2019, U.S President Donald Trump was sent an invitation to be the chief guest at the event. However, he couldn’t be a part of the celebrations due to his work commitments. For Republic Day 2020, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will be the guest of honor.
The country which will be hosted on Republic Day is chosen after bringing various factors, such as political and economic interest, into consideration. Between the 1950s and 1970s, India hosted various countries from the Non-aligned Movement forum and the Eastern Bloc. Interestingly, before having turbulent relations with Pakistan and China, India also invited leaders of these countries to be the guest of honor at the Republic Day celebration.
The Republic Day celebrations last for 3 days. The Beating Retreat ceremony, which takes place at Vijay Chowk in Delhi on 29th January, marks the end of the celebrations. The guest of honor at this event is the President of India, who arrives in a cavalry unit and is accompanied by the President’s Bodyguards to the event. On the arrival of President, the commander of President’s Bodyguard gives the command to his unit to give a National Salute. This is shortly followed by the National Anthem played by the Massed Bands and the unfurling of the Tricolor by the President. The Beating Retreat ceremony witnesses military bands from the military, Air Force, and the Navy performing with various instruments such as trumpets, drums, and buglers. The tunes played by these bands are based on Indian tunes and they fill the air with patriotism and energy.
Republic Day celebration is a ticketed event. Reserved and non-reserved tickets are made available to the public at various locations in Delhi. People who wish to buy a ticket to the event should contact the India Tourism Development counters located at hotels such as The Ashok or Delhi Tourism counters in Dilli Haat or Chandini Chowk. The cost of the tickets varies between Rs. 20 and Rs. 300.
Since several dignitaries of the country attend the event, special arrangements for their security are made in advance for smooth sailing of the event. Therefore, for the general public, it is important to keep certain things in mind while planning to attend the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi. These include:
All the entrances to Red Fort are closed for the public before the National Anthe. Make sure you reach on time.
The security measures are incredibly tight before the Republic Day celebrations. The additional security measures can partially disrupt the Metro services in on 26th and 29th January. The disruptions usually affect the following Metro routes on Republic Day:
· HUDA City Centre – Samaypur Badli
· Noida City Center – Dwarka Sector 21
· Yamuna Bank – Vaishali
· Kashmere Gate-Escorts Mujesar
The train schedules also undergo some modifications and some stations are shut down for security purposes. All metro parking lots are closed for public use from 6 am till 2 pm on 26th January.
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