Republic Day

Januray 26, 1950 : This is the date when the Constitution of India framed by Constituent Assembly of India came into force. From that date onwards, every year 26th January is celebrated as Republic Day with great pomp and show in New Delhi, capital of India, as well as in capitals of the States and other important places.

National festival and Holiday: Republic Day is one of the India’s National Festivals and National Holidays. During the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress at midnight of December 31, 1929 - January 1, 1930, a pledge was taken by nationalists that every year on January 26, the Independence Day would be celebrated.

The professed pledge was successfully redeemed on 26 January, 1950, when the Constitution of India framed by the Constituent Assembly of India came into force, although the Independence from the British rule was achieved on August 15, 1947.

Celebrations at New Delhi, The Capital of India: The Republic Day celebrations, once a once a small and modest affair, has now turned into a lavish spectacle of march past of the three armed Forces, the army, the Navy and the Air force, massive parades, folk dances by tribal folk from the different states in picturesque costumes marking the cultural unity of India. The President of India at New Delhi, on this most colourful day, takes salute of the contingents of Armed Forces.

The President of India at New Delhi, on this most colourful day, takes salute of the contingents of Armed Forces. In the States, the Governors take the salute, and in Taluqas and administrative headquarters on same procedure is adopted. At Vijay Chowk in New Delhi, three days later (i.e. 29th January) the massed bands of the Armed Forces "Beat the Retreat" in a majestic manner.

Celebrations in State Capitals: In the States, the Governors take the salute, and in Taluqas and administrative headquarters on same procedure is adopted.

Celebrations at Other Important Places With Patriotic fervor: Republic Day is celebrated with patriotic fervor at other important places across the country. Officially, Republic Day is celebrated all over the country - national capital, state capitals, municipal corporations, panchayats, and other official agencies. At the level of the people, it is observed in homes, housing colonies, schools, colleges and institutions of every kind.

The celebration mood lasts for one week. It consists of the ground preparations, rehearsals, the main display and spills over to the ‘Beating of Retreat’ on January 29, a day before Martyrs Day which marks the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

Keep your head high. Read the Poem by Rabindranath Tagore: LET MY COUNTRY AWAKE
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where the words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action -
- Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
- Rabindranath Tagore