India celebrated its 77th Republic Day on January 26, 2026, with a grand parade at Kartavya Path in New Delhi. This year's celebration was unique, as it centered around the theme "150 Years of Vande Mataram," commemorating the iconic national song and its impact on India's identity and freedom movement.
The Republic Day parade, a blend of tradition and technology, showcased India's military strength, cultural diversity, and progress. The event commenced with President Droupadi Murmu taking the salute. She arrived at Kartavya Path in a traditional buggy, accompanied by the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who were the chief guests for the occasion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, other Union Ministers, top military officials, foreign diplomats, and senior officials were also in attendance.
The parade began from Rashtrapati Bhavan and proceeded for 5 km to India Gate. Around 100 artists led the parade, highlighting the theme "Vividata Mein Ekta – Unity in Diversity" with musical instruments from across India. The armed forces displayed an array of indigenously built military platforms and hardware, including the BrahMos and Akash weapon systems, the rocket launcher 'Suryastra,' and the Main Battle Tank Arjun. A flypast by 29 aircraft of the Indian Air Force was a major attraction. Newly raised army units, such as the Bhairav light commando battalion, and elite units like mixed scouts contingents and the 61 Cavalry also participated. The parade followed a phased battle array concept, simulating real battlefield movement.
The celebrations also featured cultural performances and tableaux. Around 2,500 cultural artists performed folk dances and music on the themes of "Vande Mataram" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat". Thirty vibrant tableaus, with 17 from states/UTs and 13 from ministries, were displayed. View-cutters along Kartavya Path showcased a series of paintings created by Shri Tejendra Kumar Mitra in 1923, illustrating the verses of 'Vande Mataram'. A banner depicting 'वंदेमातरम्' was unveiled, along with the release of rubber balloons, at the parade's conclusion.
Prior to the Republic Day, the Ministry of Defence, in partnership with MyGov, organized a series of national online contests and activities to promote patriotism and creativity. These included competitions on singing "Vande Mataram" in various renditions, essay competitions on "Swatantrata Ka Mantra- Vande Mataram," painting contests on "Samriddhi Ka Mantra-Atmanirbhar Bharat," and quizzes on the evolution of Vande Mataram and India's space achievements. Pan-India band performances on the theme 'Vande Mataram' were organized from January 19 to 26, 2026, by the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, and other CAPFs.
The 77th Republic Day celebrations served as a tribute to India's rich history, its progress as a nation, and its commitment to unity and diversity. The focus on "Vande Mataram" highlighted the song's enduring significance in India's cultural and national identity.
