The Independence Day celebration this year could be accompanied by military mass bands, marching drill and fly-past by helicopters and fighter jets at Red Fort after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation. It will be for the first time since 1947 that such a gala event is on the cards for Independence Day. Posters and photo exhibitions will also be put up at various places in the national Capital and other parts of the country highlighting the freedom struggle.
The Defence Ministry, the nodal agency for organising Independence Day at Red Fort, is finalising a plan for holding the celebrations. It gave a presentation to the senior bureaucrats in this regard on Wednesday, officials said.
As per the tradition since 1947, the PM inspects a guard of honour by contingents of three Services and the Delhi Police, unfurls the national flag, and then addresses the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort for about 45 to 50 minutes. The invitees include Cabinet Ministers, leaders of political parties, diplomats and hundreds of schoolchildren.
In an effort to add colour to the programme, which has remained unchanged for the last five decades, the Government proposes to have a scintillating display by the mass bands of the three Services as done during the Republic Day parade at Rajpath and Beating Retreat ceremony three days later, sources said.
The band performance will be followed by march past by the Army, Navy and IAF, Delhi Police and para-military forces after the Prime Minister’s speech ends. The grand finale includes a thrilling aerobatic display by helicopters and fighter jets on the lines of the Republic Day, they said adding the proposed programme is short and crisp not lasting more than 15 to 20 minutes.
Given security considerations at Red Fort during the Prime Minister’s speech, various agencies involved in ensuring fool proof protection at the venue will go through the plan once it is okayed by the Government, officials said.
A major event is already on the cards to mark the 50 years of 1965 India-Pakistan war with tableaux, march past and cultural programmes to be staged at Rajpath sometime in September. Besides these events, then Prime Minister lal Bahadur Shastri’s speeches during the 15- day war when he gave the iconic slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ will also be broadcast along the Rajpath, Connaught Place and Chandni Chowk. Films and dance performances highlighting the valour of armed forces will also feature prominently during the fortnight celebrations in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also likely to take part at Rajpath.
To make the event spectator friendly, giant television screens will dot the entire Rajpath to enable the participants to enjoy the show, they said adding the government is keen to have a “carnival atmosphere.”