After being ruled for 200 years, India attained freedom in 1947. Two years later, on January 26, 1950, the republic was declared as a “Sovereign Democratic Republic.” Today, the country celebrates Republic Day with pomp and circumstance. The President of India preside over the Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath, which are broadcast live on television to millions of Indians.
As history and civics are major components of the Indian school curriculum, we are taught about our battle for freedom, independence, the creation and acceptance of the Indian Constitution, and our administration.
On the occasion of India’s 73rd Republic Day, RTD Journal brings you a list of amazing Republic Day Facts that will undoubtedly fascinate you.
♦ The parade is held every year on January 26th at Rajpath in New Delhi, as we all know, but did you realise that from 1950 to 1954, Rajpath was not the event’s administrative headquarters? Throughout these years, the 26th January procession was held at Irwin Stadium (now National Stadium), Kingsway, Red Fort, and Ramleela Maidan, respectively. The 26th January procession has been held on Rajpath every year since AD 1955. Rajpath was known as ‘Kingsway’ at the time.
♦ On January 26, 1950, the first Republic Day parade was held, with Indonesian President Dr. Sukarno as the chief guest.
♦ The parade begins on January 26th with the President’s entry. The President’s cavalier bodyguards salute the National Flag first, then the National Anthem is played and 21 guns are fired. However, did you realise that 21 canons aren’t really utilised to fire? Instead, three rounds are fired from the Indian army’s seven cannons, known as “25- Ponders.”
♦ The gun salute is fired simultaneously with the performance of the National Anthem, which is a unique characteristic. At the start of the National Anthem, the first shot is fired, and the last shot is fired 52 seconds later. Built in 1941, these guns are employed in all of the army’s official programmes.
♦ The parade participants start getting ready at 2 a.m. and arrive at the Rajpath by 3 a.m. The parade’s preparations, on the other hand, begin in July of the previous year, when all of the participants are formally informed of their participation. They will rehearse parades at their regimental centres until August, and then arrive in Delhi in December. The contestants had already put in 600 hours of practise before playing in front of an audience on January 26th.
♦ The song “Abide with me,” which was Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite, is played at every Republic Day procession event.
♦ Each group travels a total distance of 12 kilometres in preparation for the march on January 26th, but just 9 kilometres on parade day. Judges are stationed along the parade route, rating each marching group on 200 different criteria and awarded the title of “Best Marching Group” based on their findings.
♦ The “flypast” is the event’s most exciting feature. The “flypast,” which will feature around 41 aircraft, is overseen by the Western Airforce Command. The parade’s planes take off from a number of Air Force bases and arrive at Rajpath at a predetermined time.
♦ Each Army member participating in Republic Day activities must go through four stages of scrutiny.
♦ Tableaux in the procession travel at roughly 5 km/h so that essential persons can keep a careful check on them. The drivers of these tableaux drive them through a little window, which will surprise you. The Republic Day parade on January 26, 2022, will feature twelve states and union territories, as well as nine ministries and departments. These states include Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
The celebration of our greatness on Republic Day is a crucial milestone in India’s history. Let us take a minute to appreciate the great constitution of our nation. RTD Journal would like to wish every Indian a Happy 73rd Republic Day!
