Interesting Facts about Republic Day (26th January)

“Saare Jahan Se Accha.. Hindustan Humara”

Every Indian on these two days of the year expresses their patriotism towards the country. On these days, there are no Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, Jains etc..; there exist only one group of people, i.e., Indians. These days are Independence Day (15th August) and Republic Day (26th January). Today in this blog, we will look into some interesting facts about Republic Day, which is celebrated with great enthusiasm by every citizen of the country. So let’s get started!

Why do we celebrate Republic Day? 

So before looking into some facts, what we all need to know is why do we celebrate Republic Day? On 26th January 1950, our Indian Constitution came into effect, which made India a republic and completely free from British Raj. 

India got freedom on 15th August 1947, which is celebrated as Independence Day, when India got the title of sovereign and democratic. With the adoption of the Constitution on 26th January 1950, India was entitled to be a republic state as there was one head elected in India, and the representatives are elected by the citizens of the country who have the power to make decisions on their behalf.

Did you know?

The English hymn "Abide by Me" has been played annually at the Beating Retreat ceremony. It was rumoured to be Mahatma Gandhi's favourite. 

Interesting facts about 26th January

1. The Indian Constitution was enforced on 26th January 1950 at 10:18 a.m. which made India a republic country 
2. The reason for this date is that 26th January 1930 is the anniversary of Purna Swaraj Day
3. 26th of January is marked to be celebrated every year as the “Swaraj Diwas” in 1950. 
4. On this day, the National Emblem of India was selected as the Lion of Ashoka at Sarnath.
5. On the 26th of January 1965 Hindi language was announced as our national language of India.      
6. There are two original handwritten copies of the Constitution, one in Hindi and the other in English. It has been kept in helium-filled cases in the Parliament of India.
7. Every year, 21 gun salutes are fired when the President of India hoists the national flag on republic Day as an honour.
8. On this day, A garland is placed at Amar Jawan Jyoti by the Prime Minister to pay tribute to the martyrs of India who sacrificed their lives for Indian Independence.
9. There is this rule that the President of the country would address on Republic Day, and the Prime Minister of the country would address on Independence Day.
10. The concept of the separation of powers between the union and the state was borrowed from the Canadian Constitution, the Soviet Union's Fundamental Duty, the Irish Constitution's Directorial Elements, the French Constitution's Republican Administration System, and the German Constitution's Emergency Carriage System.
11. The Indian Constitution is regarded as one of the strongest in the world and has only undergone 105 amendments as of 2022. This makes it one of the best constitutions in the world.
12. The Mundaka Upanishad, part of the Atharvaveda, is the source of Satyamev Jayate, one of the most famous Indian mottos. Abid Ali provided the first translation into Hindi in 1911.

Did you know?

Awards for bravery are offered to worthy candidates on Republic Day. During the festivities, Veer Chakra, Maha Veer Chakra, Param Veer Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Ashoka Chakra are distributed.

Conclusion 

So every year, Republic day is celebrated with massive enthusiasm by the country’s citizens. Flag-hosting ceremonies and parades by armed forces are conducted in several parts of the country. The grandest parade is conducted at Rajpath in New Delhi, representing the country’s cultural legacy and military powers.

The President of India is in charge of this event. One of the main purposes of the Republic Day Parade is to honour those who have given their lives as martyrs for the nation and to present medals of courage to members of the armed forces, citizens, and young people for their bravery in the face of difficulty.