Republic Day 2023: India will be celebrating its 74th Republic Day on January 26, 2023. The day is celebrated with full vigor, patriotism, and pride across the country. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the President of Egypt, will be the guest of honor for the parade on January 26. The celebrations will commence with President Draupadi Murmu unfurling the national flag from the Kartavaya Path.
1. The republic Day parade was not always held at rajpath in Delhi
While we are accustomed to watching the magnificent procession at Rajpath each year, which is also carried throughout the nation on TV and other media platforms, few are aware that this location just started serving as the parade's regular host in 1955. The R-Day Parade used to take place between 1950–1954 at Irwin Stadium (now known as National Stadium), Kingsway, Red Fort, and Ramleela Maidan, respectively. The first Governor-General of Pakistan, Malik Gulam Mohammed, was invited as the chief guest to the 1955 Parade at Rajpath.
2. Purna swaraj diwas
The Declaration of Indian Independence Day, also known as Purna Swaraj Diwas, which was last observed in 1930 to protest British colonial authority, is also commemorated on Republic Day.
3. Prestigious Award Ceremony
As part of the celebrations during the Republic Day Parade, bravery awards including the Ashoka Chakra, Veer Chakra, Maha Veer Chakra, Param Veer Chakra, and Kirti Chakra are given to qualified applicants.
4. The Indian Constitution is the lengthiest written constitution in the world
The longest written constitution in the world is that of India. On the same day, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the first President of the Indian Union.
A drafting committee was chosen to create the Indian Constitution, with Dr. B. R. Ambedkar serving as its head.The Constituent Assembly took nearly three years to draught the Constitution of Independent India (two years, eleven months, and seventeen days).
5. The first chief guest was the then President of Indonesia
Since 1950, it has been customary to invite a foreign leader or the president or prime minister of any nation to serve as the parade's chief guest. Dr. Sukarno, the Indonesian President at the time, was invited as the parade's principal guest.
6. 25 Ponders
There are not 21 cannons fired in the 21 Gun Salute. Actually, the Indian Army's seven cannons perform this function. They are called "25 Ponders."
7. Ready by 2 AM
The parade's participants must be ready by 2 AM and get at Rajpath by 3 AM.
8. Preparations begin six months before the parade
Yes, the big parade's preparations start in July of the preceding year. All participants are duly informed at that point. This is done so that everyone and every group has ample time to prepare before the main event.