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Vande Mataram played before anthem at Red Fort ceremony
‘Vande Mataram’ was played before the national anthem at the 2026 Independence Day ceremony at Delhi’s Red Fort, its first reported use in that sequence. The government is observing a year-long commemoration…
The Story in Brief
‘Vande Mataram’ was played before the national anthem at the 2026 Independence Day ceremony at Delhi’s Red Fort, its first reported use in that sequence. The government is observing a year-long commemoration of 150 years since the song was first published. Floral displays on the ramparts featured the Tricolour and the song’s title in Hindi. After the flag hoisting, two Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopters showered petals, with one carrying the national flag and the other a ‘Vande Mataram’ flag.
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee wrote the song in 1875 and included it in his 1882 novel Anandamath. Rabindranath Tagore first sang it publicly at the 1896 Indian National Congress session in Calcutta. It became a slogan during the Swadeshi Movement in 1905 and was adopted as India’s national song by the Constituent Assembly in 1950.
The Indian Opinion
Claims that the ceremony either rewrites India’s national symbolism or treats history as mere ceremony are both too easy. ‘Vande Mataram’ has a documented place in the freedom movement, while the national anthem retains its distinct constitutional-era role. The useful test is whether the commemoration remains inclusive and historically accurate, rather than whether one performance is presented as a political victory. The 150-year programme’s content and reach will show that better than the stage order.
Source: businesstoday.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
