A riot of colours. The occasional wail of a crying kid over
the general hubbub of a large crowd. The heady smell of the essence of patriotism
on a bright sunny morning. The collective enthusiasm of thousands of people
lending the air a festive spirit. Rajpath, 26th January 2012, 63rd Republic Day of India. The celebrations held each year on the grand and iconic
Rajpath to commemorate the adoption of the Indian constitution in the year 1950
are a spectacle unparalleled by any other in the country.
The grand parade is preceded by the Prime Minister laying a
floral wreath at the Amar Javan Jyoti as
homage to the martyrs who died for the motherland during the freedom struggle
from imperialist rule and in the subsequent wars, followed by observance of two
minutes of silence. The thousands present at Rajpath are joined by millions of
people in their homes as the entire country sincerely pays silent tribute to
the martyrs. The program proceeds with arrival of the President and other
dignitaries, unfurling of the national flag - the tricolour, singing of the
national anthem and a 21-gun salute, followed by giving away of prestigious
awards like the Ashoka Chakra and Kirti Chakra. Following this, begins the
parade.
The parade constitutes a display of might by the various
divisions of the Indian paramilitary, including the showcasing of the latest
weapon systems and marches by troops and their bands with the President taking
the salute. One of the most indispensable and interesting features of the
parade are the floats presented by each state of the country. The floats are a
melange of colours, depicting little aspects of the culture and individuality
of each of the states in an innovative and engaging manner. All in all, it is
an extravaganza which doesn't fail to instil a sense of pride and patriotism in
even the most cynical of citizens.
Patriotic music and heart moving films were the theme of the
day, generating an emotional teary response from most patrons, including me.
Although we would like to believe otherwise, we do not live in an ideal
peaceful world, a fact re-imposed on my conscience by the presence of several
check posts stationed along the city’s roads. Crawling along in the minor
traffic snarl caused by one of these check posts, tense and irritable, I
started wondering if we would ever be able to completely do away with such
precautions and security measures. Probably not. But the next moment, I looked
up to see two carefree, happy children in the back seat of the car in front,
dancing and waving at me. I waved back, and indulged in the childish activity
of pulling faces and poking my tongue out at them. Delighted, they excitedly
returned me the favour. As a space opened up in the next lane and I hastily
pulled out, waving goodbye to the kids, my sober mood lifted and my faith was
restored in humanity. I end my day on an optimistic note, hoping this year is
as colourful and upbeat for everybody as the Google doodle for the day.
Only In Delhi.
No comments:
Post a Comment