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India Marks Independence with Historic Vande Mataram
15 Aug
Summary
- National song 'Vande Mataram' was sung at Red Fort for the first time.
- The event commemorated 150 years of the national song's legacy.
- Helicopters showered flower petals, one carrying a 'Vande Mataram' flag.
This year's 79th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort marked a significant first, with the national song 'Vande Mataram' being performed within the complex. The occasion also honored 150 years of this iconic song's profound legacy in India's history.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the event, which commenced with an Army band playing 'Vande Mataram'. Guests joined in singing the national song before the traditional flag hoisting ceremony. Following the hoisting of the tricolor and a 'Rashtriya Salute', two Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopters showered flower petals.
One helicopter carried the national flag, while the other displayed a flag emblazoned with 'Vande Mataram'. Written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875, the song became a key rallying cry during the freedom movement and was officially adopted by the Constituent Assembly in 1950. The government had launched year-long celebrations for its 150th anniversary last November.
