150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’ echoed in tableaux, music at Republic Day parade

India celebrated its 77th Republic Day with a grand 90-minute parade on Kartavya Path here on Monday, offering a sweeping showcase of the nation’s cultural diversity, historical legacy, military strength and artistic innovation , as thousands of spectators and dignitaries witnessed the ceremonial spectacle. European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attended the celebrations as chief guests, lending international significance to the event.

The parade unfolded under the overarching themes of ‘Vividhata Mein Ekta’ (Unity in Diversity) and ‘Swatantrata ka Mantra: Vande Mataram’ , seamlessly blending India’s freedom movement ethos with its contemporary aspirations. A total of 30 tableaux 17 from states and Union territories and 13 from ministries and services rolled down the ceremonial boulevard, many of them standing out for their strong visual narratives, floral craftsmanship and live cultural elements.

A key highlight of this year’s Republic Day celebrations was the marking of 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’ , which formed a recurring motif across tableaux, artworks and performances. Rare visual depictions of the song’s opening stanzas, floral installations and musical renditions created a distinctive aesthetic presence along Kartavya Path, reinforcing the song’s enduring place in India’s national consciousness.

Among the state tableaux, West Bengal’s display , themed ‘Bengal in the Freedom Movement of India’, drew sustained applause as it depicted Bankim Chandra Chatterjee , composer of ‘Vande Mataram’, alongside Rabindranath Tagore and revolutionary Khudiram Bose , highlighting Bengal’s seminal contribution to the freedom struggle. Tableaux from Gujarat and Chhattisgarh also paid tribute to the national song and freedom movement, with a focus on regional heroes and grassroots resistance.

The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) made a notable impression with a tableau crafted entirely from natural flowers. Featuring a burning torch with soaring flames , the display symbolised ‘Vande Mataram’ as a beacon of India’s freedom struggle and reflected ideals of sacrifice, unity and patriotism. Floral artworks and enlarged reproductions of vintage paintings illustrating the song’s verses adorned enclosures along the parade route, adding to the visual grandeur.

The Ministry of Culture’s tableau , titled ‘Vande Mataram: The Soul-Cry of a Nation’, blended historical reverence with contemporary expression. Its front section portrayed the creation of the song’s manuscript, while the middle segment featured performers in traditional attire alongside artists representing Gen Z , underscoring the continuity of national values across generations. The tableau moved to the accompaniment of a rare 1928 recording of ‘Vande Mataram’ by Vishnupant Pagnis , a unique auditory element at the parade.

Cultural performances were a major attraction throughout the ceremony. The parade opened with a musical presentation by around 100 artistes , followed by a mega dance performance by nearly 2,500 performers , representing diverse classical, folk and contemporary dance forms from across the country, all woven around patriotic themes.

The Republic Day parade also showcased India’s military preparedness and technological capability , with marching contingents, mechanised columns and an impressive Indian Air Force flypast featuring fighter jets, transport aircraft and helicopters bringing the celebrations to a rousing close. Several new elements, including enhanced formations and debuting contingents, added freshness to this year’s display.

The celebrations concluded with the release of tricolour-themed balloons carrying banners inscribed with ‘Vande Mataram’, as Kartavya Path resonated with patriotic fervour. Republic Day festivities were also marked across the country through band performances by the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces , held in several cities from January 19 to 26, extending the spirit of the national celebration beyond the capital.