Source: PTI Photo
Guwahati, Jan 26: Republic Day is synonymous to the stunning views of parade and the tableaux from different parts of the region that march down the Rajpath on January 26. Young and old alike line up to have a glimpse of the nation's assets and devour the spectacular performances of the armed forces that has been the annual tradition since 1950.
However, with the third year of its existence, the Covid-19 has cast a shadow on Republic Day, as the celebrations will be marked with certain constraints due to the pandemic.
This is the second consecutive year when the Republic Day will be celebrated while the Covid-19 scare is still prevalent in the nation. The government has put off plans to invite the dignitaries from five Central Asian nations as the chief guests to the parade.
Apart from curtailing some of the programmes from the agenda this year, the number of audience has been reduced to 70-80 percent, as compared to the last year.
Here's all you need to know what is included and excluded in Republic Day celebrations this year:
No foreign dignitary as chief guest
Earlier, a contingent of five leaders from Central Asian nations (CA-5), viz., Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were invited to be chief guests at the Republic Day celebrations on January 26. However, owing to the Covid-19 situation, New Delhi will not be hosting the leaders.
This would be the second year in a row when there would be no chief guests during the Republic Day celebrations in India due to Covid-19.
Last year, UK PM Boris Johnson was invited to be the chief guest at the event, he had even confirmed his participation but had to cancel at the last minute after the world took the worst hit of the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic.
However, reports are also doing rounds that the meeting with CA-5 leadership will move to virtual mode to celebrate 30 years of ties.
Reduction in number of visitors
In a meeting held by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence and other concerned Ministries it was decided that the celebrations in 2022 will take place with stricter restrictions than the ones imposed in 2021 with reduction in the number of visitors allowed to witness the parade.
Just like last year, the entry to the Republic Day parade will strictly be through invitation cards, children below the age of 15 will not be allowed at the parade.
Despite the seating capacity of over 1 lakh spectators, the sitting arrangements have been reduced to 24,000 this year as compared to last year when the number of visitors allowed was 25,000. Of these, 5,200 seats are for the general audience, who can buy tickets. The remaining 19,000 or so will be invited guests.
Meanwhile, reports further suggest that the number is likely to be trimmed down to anywhere between 5,000 and 8,000.
Participants strictly adhere to Covid-19 protocols
Along with the basic norms of Covid-19 the participants who will be marching down Rajpath have been under strict compliance. Apart from the defence personnel, over 2000 cadets from across the country will be participating in this year's Republic Day camp of National Cadet Corps (NCC), said reports. The participants were put under a bio bubble while they were camping at the parade ground.
Apart from the Covid-19 curtailed celebrations, the occasion will also be marked with some new additions.
R-Day celebrations to commence from Jan 23
In a first, India has begun Republic Day celebrations from January 23 instead of January 24, to include the birth anniversary of late freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. On the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the hologram statue of the freedom fighter at India Gate in Delhi on January 23. The Centre said the new change will take place in line with the Modi government's focus on commemorating important aspects of India's history and culture.
Parade to commence 30 mins later
The Republic Day parade will not start at the scheduled time of 10 am and will begin 30 minutes after the scheduled time for the first time in 75 years. This year the parade will start at 10:30 am, the Defence Ministry informed during a media briefing.
According to reports, homage will be paid to security personnel who lost their lives in Jammu and Kashmir before the Parade commences. Moreover, for the very first time, special invitations will be rolled out for underprivileged people who don't usually get to witness the January 26 parade.
