Republic Day Parade 2025: Key Highlights, Themes, and Grand Preparations in Delhi

 

Republic Day Parade 2025: Key Highlights, Themes, and Grand Preparations in Delhi

As India prepares to mark its 76th Republic Day on January 26, 2025, celebrations in Delhi are in full swing. The annual event, held at Kartavya Path (previously Rajpath), highlights the nation's cultural richness, military strength, and technological progress. The atmosphere is alive with the sounds of rehearsals for cultural performances, the sight of tricolors fluttering, and the excitement surrounding the grand parades. Here's a detailed overview of the ongoing arrangements and key highlights of this year’s preparations.

Check out these key highlights for Republic Day 2025

As India prepares to celebrate its 76th Republic Day on January 26, 2025, the festivities in Delhi are being meticulously planned. The event, which takes place annually at Kartavya Path (formerly Rajpath), is a grand celebration of India’s cultural richness, military strength, and technological advancements. The atmosphere is buzzing with rehearsals for cultural programs, fluttering tricolors, and a sense of excitement surrounding the parades. Here’s an overview of the key preparations and highlights for this year’s Republic Day celebrations.

Tableaux Theme and Participants

A central highlight of the Republic Day Parade is the tableaux, presented by different states and government ministries. These colorful displays reflect India's diverse culture, historic landmarks, technological progress, and developmental achievements, offering a visual feast for the nation and the world.

The Ministry of Defence has announced that the theme for the Republic Day 2025 tableaux will be “Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas” (Golden India: Heritage and Development). The parade will feature cultural and creative exhibits from various states, union territories, and central ministries.

However, due to time limitations during the parade, only 15 states and union territories have been selected to showcase their tableaux on Kartavya Path. These include Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

States and union territories that are not part of the Kartavya Path parade will have the opportunity to display their exhibitions at the Bharat Parv, held at Red Fort from January 26 to 31, 2025.

Cultural Performances

Republic Day celebrations are marked by vibrant cultural performances that highlight India’s cultural diversity. Schoolchildren from all over the country are rehearsing for these performances, which will include traditional dance forms and patriotic themes, symbolizing India's unity in diversity. The costumes and choreography promise to be a spectacular part of the celebrations.

In addition, the Project 'Veer Gatha 4.0', a collaborative initiative by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education, has garnered significant participation this year. Over 1.76 crore children from approximately 2.31 lakh schools took part in the competition. A total of 100 winners will be selected across four categories: Preparatory Stage (Grades 3-5), Middle Stage (Grades 6-8), Secondary Stage (Grades 9-10), and Senior Stage (Grades 11-12).

Parade Highlights

The grand Republic Day Parade is a showcase of India's military prowess and cultural diversity. Organized by the Ministry of Defence and presided over by the President of India, the parade will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Kartavya Path. It will feature marching contingents from the three wings of the Indian Armed Forces, vibrant tableaux from states and ministries, and thrilling flypasts by the Indian Air Force.

To foster national involvement, around 10,000 VIP guests have been invited to attend the parade. These individuals come from various fields and have been recognized for their achievements and contributions, embodying the vision of “Swarnim Bharat”.

Chief Guest for Republic Day 2025

This year, Prabowo Subianto, the ex-general and newly elected president of Indonesia, will be India’s chief guest for the 76th Republic Day celebrations. The selection of the chief guest is a carefully considered process that begins months in advance, involving consultations with the Prime Minister and President of India. Indonesia’s President Sukarno was the first Republic Day chief guest in 1950, and in 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron attended as the guest.

Ticket Information and Booking

Tickets for the Republic Day Parade and the Beating Retreat ceremony are now available for purchase both online and offline. The online booking window will be open from January 2 to 11, 2025 via the official website www.aamantran.mod.gov.in. Reserved seat tickets are priced at Rs 100, while unreserved seats are available for Rs 20. The ministry has kept ticket prices affordable to encourage public participation.

For a seamless booking experience, the ‘Aamantran’ mobile app (available for Android and iOS) allows users to buy tickets on the go. Additionally, physical ticket counters will be set up across Delhi, where tickets can be purchased by presenting a photo ID.

Conclusion

Republic Day in Delhi is more than just a national celebration; it is a powerful symbol of India’s unity, pride, and achievements. The elaborate preparations demonstrate the dedication of multiple agencies working together to ensure the success of this event. As the nation eagerly anticipates January 26, the stage is set for another memorable celebration of India’s sovereignty and democratic values.