Each year, 26th January is a day on which every Indian heart fills up with patriotic fervour and immense love for motherland. There are many significant memories as it was this day when the Indian Tricolour was first unfurled in January 1930 at Lahore, by Pt Jawaharlal Nehru and the declaration of an independent Indian National Congress was made.
26th January, 1950 was the day when the Indian republic and its constitution came into force. It was this day in history in 1965 when Hindi was declared as the official language of India.
The dream of becoming an independent republic turned into reality on 26th January 1950 for India 71 years ago. Today our nation celebrates the Republic day with pride and dignity paying respect to the soldiers on this day who have laid down their lives for our cherished citizens to breathe with peace on our soil.
Republic Day in India is celebrated on January 26th and is a gazetted holiday. The term ‘gazetted holiday’ is used in countries such as India, Singapore and Australia which were all formerly colonized by the British.
Republic Day came into effect for the first time on 26th January 1950 to honour the day the Constitution of India came into force.
It is one of three national holidays in India, the other two being Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti. Independence Day celebrates India’s freedom from British rule and is not to be confused with Republic Day which celebrates the Constitution of India. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, who was the first President of the Republic of India, unfurled the Indian National Flag while a salute of 21 guns rang out the birth of the Indian Republic.
Republic Day is celebrated throughout India in all the state capitals. Many businesses and shops close for the day along with banks, post offices and schools. A large celebration is held in New Delhi where the prime minister lays a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate in memory of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for their country. People participate in parades all over India and school children take part by dancing and performing traditional songs. The president takes the military salute and armed forces fly past over the parade area showering the people below with rose petals.
Republic Day is a day where acts of bravery are rewarded with medals both to the military and to civilians. The armed forces display motor cycle rides and gifts are given to children. The spirit of the day focuses on the independence of India and celebrations conclude with a ‘fly past’ by the Indian Air Force where planes leave trails of smoke in the colours of the Indian flag.
The Delhi Republic Day parade is the largest and most important of the parades marking the Republic Day celebrations in India. The parade takes place every year on 26 January at Rajpath, New Delhi. It is the main attraction of India's Republic Day celebrations, which last for 3 days.
The first parade was held in 1950, and it has been held every year since.
The parade marches from the Rashtrapati Bhawan along the Rajpath, until the India Gate. It opens with the unfurling of the national flag by the President of India. This is followed by marching from several regiments of the army, navy, and air force, along with their bands. Tableau from various states signifying their culture are displayed. A beating retreat ceremony signifies the end of the parade.
The importance of Republic Day
It was on this day 71 years ago, the Indian Constitution came into force and the country was declared the largest democracy in the world.
After 200 years of British rule, when India gained Independence from the United Kingdom on August 15, 1947, it did not have a permanent constitution of its own. It was felt that a written constitution would help to run the country more systematically and for that, a drafting committee was constituted, headed by Dr B.R. Ambedkar. It took almost 2 years, 11 months and 18 days for the committee to draft the constitution. After making all the necessary changes it was formally adopted on November 26, 1949, by the Constituent Assembly of India. However, it came into force on January 26, 1950, and since that day India started celebrating January 26 as Republic Day.
This date was specifically chosen as it marks the anniversary of Purna Swaraj Day, which was held on January 26, 1930. The Purna Swaraj resolution made on January 26, 1930, called for “complete freedom from the British rule”. The constitution gave India's citizens the power to govern themselves by choosing their government. The Indian constitution declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic, assuring justice, equality, liberty and promoting fraternity to all its citizens.
How R-day is celebrated every year
A lot of effort is put towards organising events and celebrating Republic Day across the country. But the centre of attraction is always the grand event organised at the Rajpath in the National Capital. The event starts with the prime minister laying a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate, to remember soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country. The president of India then hoists the flag at Rajpath every year, which is followed by a colourful parade showcasing the diversity of the country and military power. India’s military power is presided over by the Indian president, who is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. Assorted tableaus representing the colourful culture of different states, PSUs and other ministries are also a major attraction of the parade. The President of India also confers the military persons, citizens and children with bravery awards. Apart from this, at state and district level cultural festivals are organised every year on this day. It is a custom to have a foreign head of nations as the Chief Guest for the R-Day Parade at the national capital.
The Beating Retreat function is held after formally meaning the finish of Republic Day merriments. It is led on the night of 29 January, the third after quite a while. It is performed by the groups of the three wings of the military, the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. The setting is Raisina Hill and a neighboring square, Vijay Chowk, flanked by the North and South piece of the Rashtrapati Bhavan towards the finish of Rajpath.
The Chief Guest of the capacity is the President of India who arrives escorted by the, a mounted force unit. At the point when the President arrives, the PBG leader requests that the unit give the National Salute, which is trailed by the playing of the Indian National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana, by the Army. The Army builds up the service of show by the massed groups in which Military Bands, Pipe and Drum Bands, Buglers and Trumpeters from different Army Regiments other than groups from the Navy and Air Force partake which play well known tunes like Abide With Me, Mahatma Gandhi's most loved song, and Saare Jahan Se Achcha toward the end.
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