Rajpath has once again prostrated, to witness the 71st Republic Day. But it is not that Rajpath has become the witness of the parade of 26 January every time. Rajpath also had to wait for five years to live this historic moment.
Republic Day was celebrated for the first time in the country on 26 January 1950. But it was not held at Rajpath. The preparations for this celebration had started from 7 January itself. The first Republic Day was celebrated at Irvine Stadium (today's National Stadium). The country's first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, came here and hoisted the tricolor flag and took salute of about 3000 soldiers
Even then the venue of the parade of 26 January kept changing. Till 1954, it was held at Kingsway Camp, Ramlila Maidan and sometimes Red Fort. In 1955, for the first time, Republic Day celebrations reached Rajpath. It has continued regularly since then.
No comments:
Post a Comment