Republic Day 2024: Celebrating Unity And Spirit of Democracy

Introduction

January 26, 2024, was India’s 75th Republic Day celebration. On this day, we celebrate the Constitution and the establishment of India as a republic rather than a colony or a dominion of another country.

What will be the main attractions in Republic Day 2024?

• French Contingent
  • The Republic Day procession featured participation from the French military contingent. The group was from the French Foreign Legion Corps.
  • The French military took part in India’s Republic Day celebrations for the second time.
• Nari Shakti
  • With a focus on women, the 75th Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path featured the themes of “Viksit Bharat” and “Bharat- Loktantra ki Matruka.”
  • India’s military might and cultural variety were on display during the Republic Day parade, with a focus on women’s empowerment, or Nari Shakti.
  • A troop of just women from the tri-services marched in the parade for the first time.
• NCC Contingents
  • For the third year running, the Prime Minister’s Banner is secured at the Republic Day Camp 2024 by the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Directorate Maharashtra contingent.
  • The Prime Minister’s Banner is a distinguished honor bestowed upon the top-performing state contingent of NCC cadets at the annual Republic Day Camp, an occasion where cadets from all over India display their abilities.
• Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar
  • Children who have demonstrated extraordinary ability and accomplishment in the areas of courage, athletics, science and technology, creativity, and social service are awarded the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar.
• Veer Gatha 3.0
  • As part of the Republic Day celebrations in 2024, the third edition of Project Veer Gatha was held to inspire and raise awareness among young people about the valiant acts and sacrifices made by the armed forces.
• Anant Sutra
  • An unusual piece known as “Anant Sutra,” which displayed sarees and draperies from all around India, was a part of the 75th Republic Day parade. as an homage to the ladies of India and the nation’s needlework and weaving traditions.
• Beating Retreat Ceremony 2024
  • The Beating Retreat event was held at Delhi’s Vijay Chowk on January 29, 2024. Republic Day celebrations conclude with this military custom.
  • Music bands from the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will perform 31 Indian songs throughout the occasion.

Which Tableaus’s Key Points for Republic Day 2024 are most noteworthy?

• Ministry of Culture’s Tableau
  • Among the tableaus that were a part of the 75th Republic Day parade, the one with the subject “Bharat: Mother of Democracy” won first place.
  • Using the anamorphic method, it demonstrated how democracy developed from ancient India to the present day.
• Defence Research and Development Organisation
  • “Self-reliance in Defence Technology” was the topic of the DRDO tableau.
  • Astra, Light Combat Aircraft “Tejas,” “Uttam” Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar (AESAR), Advanced Electronic Warfare System “Shakti,” Cyber Security systems, Command Control Systems, and the Semiconductor Fabrication Facility are some of the DRDO-developed systems and subsystems that were on display. Missiles like the Man Portable Anti-tank Guided Missile (MPATGM), Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Missile, and Agni-5 Surface-to-Surface Ballistic Missile are among the systems and subsystems on display.
• Army Tableau
  • The LCA, the ALH, the Kalvari-class submarine, and the formidable aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Delhi, INS Kolkata, and INS Shivalik—all built in India—were all displayed in the Indian Navy tableau.
• Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • The tableau included the Sagarmala initiative and Nari Shakti in the marine industry.
• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
  • The CSIR tableau proudly shows the purple revolution taking place in the lavender fields of Bhaderwah, Jammu, and Kashmir.
• Indian Space Research Organisation
  • The Aditya L-1 mission and the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft’s landing close to the Moon’s south pole were shown in the tableau.
  • The tableau showed, among other future missions, Bhartiya Antariksh Station and Gaganyaan.
• Arunachal Pradesh
  • The Singchung Bugun Village Community Reserve, a 17 square kilometer biodiversity hotspot established in 2017 to save the critically endangered Bugun Liocichla bird, was the focus of the state’s tableau.
  • The Bugun traditional dance was the leader of Tableau.
• Manipur
  • The Ima Keithel, or Mother’s Market, is a women-run business that was included in Manipur’s tableau.
  • A lady was weaving clothing on an “Eyong” loom, a traditional Manipur loom, as part of the parade’s Manipur tableau.
• Madhya Pradesh
  • The tableau included Avani Chaturvedi, a resident of the Rewa area of Madhya Pradesh, who was the first female fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force.
  • It also included weavers of the world-famous Chanderi, Maheshwari, and Bagh print sarees, as well as the Badal Mahal gate.
• Chhattisgarh
  • The tableau showed the “Muria Darbar,” a traditional tribal type of parliament in Bastar. It also showed “Limau Raja,” a location in Bade Dongar, the former Bastar capital.
• Ladakh
  • The scene showed a tall hill in Ladakh with Umling-La Pass, the highest motorable road in the world.
• Tamil Nadu
  • The historical significance of the Kudavolai voting system—which originated during the Chola dynasty in the tenth century and was a pioneering step towards democracy—was emphasized in the tableau.
  • A scale model of the Vaikunda Perumal Temple at Uthiramerur, which practices the Kudavolai system and illustrates how it has been assimilated into the local way of life, was also included.
• Odisha
  • A historic hut from Raghurajpur village, where women are essential to the production of Pattachitra and masks, was included in the state’s tableau.
• Meghalaya
  • A distinctive freshwater scuba diving location near Dawki’s Umngot River was highlighted in the state’s tableau.
  • The display honored neighborhood-driven cleaning campaigns in Mawlynnong, the cleanest hamlet in Asia.
  • It also emphasized the rich reserve of the state, showcasing its flora and indigenous creatures, such as the clouded leopard.
• Rajasthan
  • With the “Ghoomar” dance and the adorned camel emblem, the tableau highlighted the state’s tourist potential.
  • The tableau featured a figure of Meera Bai, a 16th-century Hindu poetess and ardent follower of Lord Krishna.
• Telangana
  • The tableau paid tribute to the legacy of warriors for tribal liberation such as Chityalallamma (Chakalillamma), Ramji Gond, and Komaram Bheem.
• Uttar Pradesh
  • Tableau, an artistic representation of Lord Ram as a child incarnation (Ram Lalla), symbolized the consecration event that happened in Ayodhya.
  • Additionally, it showed the nation’s first-ever high-speed regional rapid transit system (RRTS) in action.
  • Jewar Airport, the fourth-largest international airport in the world, was shown in the tableau.
  • The tableau is accompanied by a group of female performers who dance the popular Braj region’s traditional dances, Charkula and Wadhwa.
• Gujarat
  • The concept of Dhordo: Global Identity of Gujarat’s Border Tourism served as the foundation for the tableau.
  • At the westernmost point of India, Dhordo serves as the entry point to the Rann of Kutch.
  • Along the tableau, women in traditional clothing performed garba.
• Maharashtra
  • The centerpiece of Maharashtra’s tableau was Shivaji Maharaj’s foundation of “self-rule” and respect for women in his “kingdom of the people.”
• Haryana
  • The state’s ambitious “Mera Parivar-Meri Pehchan” project was showcased in the tableau.
  • Through a phone call, it also outlined the advantages of the “Parivar Pehchan Patra,” including the easy acquisition of rations, agricultural subsidies for farmer families, youth scholarships, and pensions for the elderly.
• Jharkhand
  • The tableau illustrated Tasar moth rearing, cocoon manufacturing, weaving, and the contemporary voyage of Tasar clothing from design to global distribution, showcasing the expertise of tribal women in the creation of Tasar silk.
  • The “Jhumar” traditional dance from Jharkhand was showcased.

What is Republic Day’s historical background?

• About
  • Republic Day marks the anniversary of both the country’s conversion to a republic and the promulgation of the Indian Constitution on January 26, 1950.
  • On November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India enacted the constitution, which went into force on January 26, 1950.
  • On January 26, 1950, the Indian Constitution came into force, nullifying the Government of India Act 1935 and the Indian Independence Act 1947. India was an independent democratic republic with a constitution, replacing its previous status as a dominion of the British Crown.
• History
  • The INC’s historic “Poorna Swaraj” resolution, which demanded ultimate self-rule/sovereignty and independence from British control, was passed by the Lahore Session in December 1929.
  • The Congress encouraged Indians to celebrate “independence” on January 26, 1930, the day the Declaration of Independence was formally issued.
• Republic Day in Post-Independence India
  • 26 January was observed as “Independence Day” or “Poorna Swaraj Day” from 1930 until 1947.
  • After India attained independence on August 15, 1947, the meaning of Republic Day was reexamined.
  • Because January 26th already had nationalist connotations and was in line with the “Poorna Swaraj” proclamation, it was the perfect day to adopt India’s new constitution.

Conclusion

In celebrating Republic Day 2024, India showcased unity and democratic spirit on its 75th anniversary. Noteworthy were the French military’s participation, the focus on women’s empowerment, and diverse cultural displays. The tableaus, particularly the Ministry of Culture’s winning entry, highlighted the evolution of democracy. The concluding Beating Retreat Ceremony symbolized the harmonious blend of military tradition and musical celebration. This historic day reaffirmed India’s commitment to its constitution, reflecting a journey from colonial rule to a vibrant democratic republic.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

Sources:

• https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/republic-day-2024-india-history-and-significance-behind-celebrations/articleshow/107146366.cms?from=mdr
• https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2000684#:~:text=Delhi%20Police%20Women%20Contingent%20named,auxiliary%20forces%20in%20both%20categories&text=Raksha%20Rajya%20Mantri%20Shri%20Ajay%20Bhatt%20gave%20away%20the%20best,Parade%20on%20January%2030%2C%202024.
• https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/republic-day-2024-inspiring-wishes-and-quotes-to-share-with-your-family-friends-2491569-2024-01-26
• https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence/happy-republic-day-2024-wishes-quotes-messages-and-whatsapp-status/3375630/