India is all set to celebrate its 72nd Republic Day and it will be the first one to be organized amid the covid-19 pandemic. So, quite a few remarkable changes are anticipated to be seen keeping in mind the norms of the pandemic. The celebrations are scaled-down and are hoping to be much quieter than the previous years.
Here are 10 interesting facts that are going to be followed by the parade organizers to avoid further contribution to the expansion of covid territory:
72nd Republic Day Celebration Facts
- No foreign chief guest will be appearing to experience the heritage of India this Republic Day. This will be the first Republic Day parade without a chief guest in five decades. Initially, UK PM, Boris Johnson was invited for the 2021 Republic day parade, which later got cancelled due to the proliferation of the new corona strain in the United States.
- The size of the marching contingents is presumably to be bought down from 144 (12×12) to around 96 (12×8). Also, the Jawans will be seen wearing masks during the parade.
- Usually, a crowd of around 100,000 is gathered to sight the enthralling celebration of the big day at Rajpath, but this year in view of the pandemic only around 25,000 spectators will be allowed to view the celebrations.
- Children below 15 years of age and highly senior citizens will not be given access into the ground except the ones to be performing.
- The distance of the Republic Day parade viz. the most intriguing part, will be shorter for 2021. The parade march will begin from Vijay Chowk and end up at the National Stadium instead of the Red Fort.
- The Army personnel, who have already arrived at the cantonment area, have been kept in a “safe bubble” in order to avoid contact with the outside world until Republic Day celebrations on 26th Jan.
- The number of participating children has been cut down to 400 compared to over 600 last year. Schoolchildren from over four central schools and folk artists from Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata have taken part in the cultural program during the Republic Day parade.
- Veteran parade by ex-servicemen artists has been knocked out in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year, veterans of age 99 and 100 years had participated in the parade.
- The motorcycle stunts by the army troop and the Central Armed Police Force personnel have also been called off.
- Seating arrangements for the public and the special guests have been made specially keeping the social distancing norms in mind. Also, the invitees attending the parade have to follow some basic covid protocols that include temperature check, use of sanitizer, mask, and social distancing.
So, this Republic Day let us all pledge to be more aware and more conscious about our environment and contribute to a healthier society hoping to have the following years with full-fledged celebrations.
Image by motionstock from Pixabay
