Happy Republic Day 2021: India celebrates 72nd Republic Day amidst pandemic

Amidst the gloom of the Coronavirus pandemic, the country celebrates its 72nd Republic Day. It’s on this day that the Constitution of India came into force 72 years ago in 1950.

Since then, every year the country celebrates its Republic Day on January 26. This date has another important relevance.

In 1929, it was on this day the Indian National Congress proclaimed the Declaration of Indian Independence (Purna Swaraj). This was against the British government’s offer of Dominion Status.

This for the first time in the past 72 years that the celebration is taking place amid a health emergency situation. Due to this, the government decided to hold fewer functions and events.

The presence of individuals has also been regulated and reduced so that the infection can be contained in an effective manner. While earlier 1.25 lakh people used to attend the event and watch live, this year it was reduced to 25,000 only. Children below the age of 15 years were not allowed to attend the event.

The number of contingents was dropped from 144 to 96 to keep the event as less crowded as possible.

The timings of the events were between 9 and 11:25 in the morning and the parade route was also shortened.

While earlier the parade used to march from India Gate up to the historic Red Fort but this year it ended up at National Stadium only.

This time there is no chief guest also. Rafale fighter jets, which have been recently inducted in the country’s defence system, hogged the limelight.

Another attraction was a Bangladeshi tri-service contingent. It led the parade to mark the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

32 tableaus - 17 from states/UTs and six from the Ministry of Defence among others were the attractions of the event.