Every year 26 January is celebrated as Republic Day in India. This time the country is celebrating its 73rd Republic Day. In fact, on 26 January 1950, the Indian Constitution was implemented. India was declared a full republic. Because of this, the national festival of 26 January is celebrated every year as Republic Day. The present Constitution was duly adopted by the Constituent Assembly of the country on November 26, 1949, hence this day is celebrated as Constitution Day in the country.
1- First time Republic Day was celebrated on 26 January 1950. On this day the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad unfurled the tricolor with a 21-gun salute.
2- Before independence, 26 January was celebrated as Independence Day. Purna Swaraj Day (Independence Day) was celebrated on 26 January for almost 18 years.
3- From the freedom movement to the implementation of the Constitution in the country, the date of 26 January has had its own importance. On 31 December 1929, in the Lahore session of the Congress, under the chairmanship of Jawaharlal Nehru, a resolution was passed demanding Poorna Swaraj for India. said that if If the British government did not give Dominion status to India till January 26, 1930, then India would be declared completely independent. Independence Day was celebrated for the first time on 26 January 1930. Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the tricolor on this day. Then after the country got independence, 15 August 1947 was officially declared as Independence Day. In this way, 26 January had become the country's Independence Day informally even before independence.
4- The Constitution was implemented on 26 January 1950 only to give importance to the date of implementation of Purna Swaraj resolution on 26 January 1930. After this 26 January was declared as Republic Day.
5- In the year 1950, the first Indian Governor General of the country, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, declared India a sovereign democratic republic on 26 January. On this day Dr. Rajendra Prasad was sworn in as the first President of the Republic of India. He was given a cannon salute. Since then this tradition of cannon salute has remained.
6- On the occasion of Independence Day (August 15), the program is held at the Red Fort and the Prime Minister hoists the flag, while on the Republic Day, the program is held on the Rajpath and the President hoists the flag. The President is the constitutional head of the country.
7- The first Republic Day parade was held in Delhi on 26 January 1950, not on Rajpath but at Irwin Stadium (today's National Stadium).
8- Between 1950-1954, Republic Day celebrations were held in Delhi, sometimes at Irwin Stadium, Kingsway Camp, Red Fort and sometimes at Ramlila Maidan.
9- The Republic Day parade started for the first time in the year 1955 at Rajpath. This parade, covering a distance of eight kilometers, starts from Raisina Hill and ends at the Red Fort passing through Rajpath, India Gate. But like last year, this time too the route of the Republic Day parade has been shortened due to the Kovid epidemic. The parade will start from Vijay Chowk and end at the National Stadium near India Gate. However, the tableau that comes out after the parade will end at the Red Fort.
10- Earlier, 1.25 lakh people used to watch the parade, which was reduced to 25 thousand in the year 2021 due to Kovid. But this time the number of viewers will be around 8 thousand only.
