Republic Day in India (26/01)

Republic Day (Hindi ्र ््र ्र्ा, english. Republic Day was introduced in India in 1950 and is celebrated annually on January 26. It is a national holiday celebrating the adoption of the Constitution of India and the country's transition from the status of a British dominion to a republic.

India declared its independence from Great Britain on August 15, 1947. Two weeks later, a special committee was appointed to draft the country's Constitution, which was adopted in November 1949 and came into force on January 26, 1950.

Republic Day is celebrated throughout the country. A characteristic feature of this holiday is the organization of festive processions in Delhi, as well as in the capitals of all states. In Delhi, it runs along the central Raj Path Avenue from the Presidential Palace to the Gateway of India. The procession is formed by colorfully decorated platforms, representing various states of the country to spectators of thousands gathering on both sides of the avenue. It also involves columns of schoolchildren, scouts, folk dancers, and orchestras.

This procession is preceded by a solemn ceremony of the arrival of the President and Prime Minister of the country on Raj Path, as well as a military parade of the capital's garrison troops, during which modern weapons are demonstrated, and squadrons of Indian Air Force aircraft fly over Victory Square — Vijay Chowk —.

Republic Day — is a holiday to which various kinds of folk dance and music festivals, theatrical performances and other cultural events are timed. In Delhi, on the days immediately following January 26, a two-day folk dance festival is held at the National Stadium, in which representatives from almost all states of India participate.

An interesting afterword to the celebration of Republic Day in Delhi is the «Challenge signal» ceremony, in which guardsmen of the presidential guard participate in picturesque uniforms almost from the times of the Napoleonic wars. It takes place on the second day after the holiday in Vijay Chowk Square in the presence of government leaders and members of the diplomatic corps.

At sunset, combined army brass bands perform both bravura marches and lyrical works. The ceremony has its roots in the Middle Ages, when on the slope of the day troops stopped combat operations and blew the rebound. With the last rays of the sun, the music fades and the darkening sky is illuminated with fireworks.

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