70th Republic Day of India 2016 - January 26 (Tuesday)

Republic Day, celebrated on January 26th every year, is one of Indias most important
national events. It was on January 26th, 1950 that the constitution of India came into
force and India became a truly Sovereign, Democratic and Republic country. On this day,
India finally enjoyed the freedom of spirit, rule of law and fundamental principle of
Governance. The patriotic fervor of the Indian people on this day brings the whole
country together even in her embedded diversity.

Republic Day is not just a National Holiday for Indians

Its when regional identity takes a backseat and what matters most is the universal appeal
of unity and brotherhood projected by all Indians. The Indian constitution basically
stands for the aspirations which the common man of India cherishes. Republic Day is
a day of the citizen of the country when he is entitled to be all supreme'.
Republic Day is celebrated most majestically in the capital, New Delhi, where symbols
of the great nation's military might and cultural wealth are displayed in what is the
world's most impressive parade. All Government buildings are illuminated lending the
city the atmosphere of a fairyland. This day is celebrated with much zeal and pride all
across the nation.

Long Weekends in 2016

Republic Day is not just a day when every Indian feels patriotic, this year, it also brings a
lot of Long Weekends with itself. There are plenty of options for people to plan a short
holiday trips to any nearby place. But don't forget to remember all the heroes of India's
Independence and all those who have made India a truly Republic Country. Stay Tuned
for our Long Weekend Calender for 2016.

The Story behind the Republic Day Parade!

Watching the Republic Day Parade has always aroused the feeling of pride and honor for
the country in our hearts. But do you know the story behind the Republic Day Parade?
Do you know how long does it take to prepare those 2 hours of public entertainment?
Well, there's a lot of practice and physical exercise, over 6000 marchers, 1200 students
and 5000 artists from all round the country who make it happen in a span of 6 months!!!
This spectacular celebration is possible because of the 33 departments and 3200 officials
who work round the clock to ensure a glitch free ceremony and fool-proof security.

Contingents, Soldiers and Personnels

The process of selection of the participants begins 6 months in advance. Every year 42
contingents with 144 soldiers march down Janpath on this day. All of them arrive before
1st of January in order to begin their practice in full swing. Around 10,000 personnels
reside in Delhi Cantonment and Parade Ground during this while. This year we will
witness 3 more contingents of the Women Officers from the Air, Navy and Army.

The Camelry
The 'camelry' of the Border Security Forces is one of the best parts of the parade & acts
like a show-stopper. To guard and protect the frontiers of Gujarat and Rajasthan, 1200
camels are trained by the BSF in Jodhpur.

Out of which, 100 males around five years of age are brought in a camp in Palam (Delhi)
in the beginning of November itself . Loads of trucks filled desert sand follow the route.
These camels are taken around the city to acquaint them with the city's noise and crowd.

The Jhankis or Tableaus

Let's now talk about the favourite part of the celebration - The Tableaus. To get entry into
the parade, the states have to go through multiple rounds until their tableau gets selected
by the defence secretary heading the high level committee.

On the invitation of the defence ministry, these 'jhankis' or Tableaus are created by nearly
5000 fabricators and artists at the Artistes' Village of Delhi Cantonment.

Other Arrangements
With over 1.11 lakh seats were divided into 35 enclosures, 19,000 seats will be open to
the general public last year. This was organized by the defence ministry in coordination
with Delhi Police. The Army's Signal Regiment puts in cables as long as 38 kilometres to
make sure that the sound system remains faultless. To make this day more enchanting in
the evening, around 1.40 lakh bulbs were installed around the venue which help in
making this day a spectacular success!