R-Day Parade celebrates 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’ with rare artwork display
Written in 1875 by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, 'Vande Mataram' had turned into a rallying cry during the freedom movement
Prints of old paintings by artist Tejendra Kumar Mitra, illustrating the opening stanzas of 'Vande Mataram', adorned the enclosure backdrops along the Kartavya Path at the 77th Republic Day Parade here.
Written in 1875 by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, 'Vande Mataram' had turned into a rallying cry during the freedom movement. It was adopted as India's national song by the Constituent Assembly in 1950.
The sesquicentenary of 'Vande Mataram' is the dominant theme of the ceremonial parade this year.
Invitation cards to the ceremonial parade here carry the logo of the song's sesquicentenary, along with a silhouetted image of Chatterjee and 'Vande Mataram' as a watermark. Also, performances by the military and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) bands, held from January 19 to 26 in many cities, were on the theme 'Vande Mataram'.
India is showcasing its development journey, cultural heritage and military might at the 77th Republic Day Parade, which began this morning. President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, are the chief guests at the parade.
The country turned republic on January 26, 1950, when the Constitution, adopted on November 26, 1949, came into effect.
Thirty tableaux -- 17 from various states and Union Territories, and 13 from ministries and services -- will roll down the Kartavya Path as part of the parade.
