India is celebrating its 72nd Republic Day this year. It is a day when every community comes together and celebrates leaving past all their differences. However, it is the first to be organizing amid the covid-19 pandemic which means celebrations are taking place with many changes, including a shorter route for the parade and much less public participation in the event.
It was this day in history in 1965 when Hindi was declared as the official language of India. This year it will be marked India’s 72th Republic Day. The Indian Constitution came into effect on 26 January 1950, which declared India’s occurrence as an independent republic. This time there is no chief guest at the event for the first time in decades after British prime minister Boris Johnson called off his India trip due to the covid-19 The number of marching contingents from the armed forces will remain the same but the numbers making up each contingent have been reduced from to 96 from . Each member of the contingent will be wearing a mask-as per the protocol laid down by the Indian government to prevent the transmission of covid-19. A 122-member proud contingent of the Bangladesh armed forces will also march on Rajpath.
After all the celebrations are done the Beating The Retreat takes place which officially denotes the end of Republic Day festivities. All-important Government Buildings are beautifully adorned with sparkly lights every evening from 26th to 29th. Beating the Retreat ceremony is conducted on the evening of January 29, the third day after the Republic Day. The drummers also give a solo performance (known as the Drummer's Call). The bands march back playing a popular martial tune Saare Jahan Se Achcha. At exactly 6 pm, National Flag is lowered, and the National Anthem is sung, bringing the Republic Day celebrations to a formal end.
