1,800 Distinguished Guests Gather for India’s 77th Independence Day

Happy Independence Day 2023. The stage is all set for the 77th Independence Day festivities. On August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver a speech from the renowned Red Fort to the country. Up to 1,800 prominent guests from all backgrounds have been invited to the ceremony, a significantly longer list than the previous year. 

With this year’s Independence Day celebrations, the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ festivities that began in 2021 will come to a close. 

The G-20 logo has been prominently displayed this year in the floral arrangements on the Red Fort. The National Flag will be raised by PM Modi, who will then give the traditional talk at the Red Fort, the 21-gun salute, and the singing of the National Anthem by NCC cadets from all around the nation.

The special guests have already been invited as a part of the government’s “Jan Bhagidari” initiative to promote citizen involvement in politics. More than 400 Sarpanches from more than 660 villages are among them, as are 250 members of Farmer Producer Organisations scheme, 50 participants in each of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, 50 Shram Yogis (constructors) of the Central Vista Project, which includes the New Parliament Building, 50 Khadi workers, those engaged in border road construction, the creation of Amrit Sarovar and & Har Ghar Jal Yojana.

A Representative for State and UT

A total number of 75 couples from each State and Union Territory are invited to the festivities at Red Fort. After the speech by the prime minister, 1,100 boys, and girls NCC cadets (Army, Navy, and Air Force) from various schools across the country will sing the national song.

Selfie Competition

As part of the celebrations for Independence Day, the Ministry of Defence will hold an online selfie competition on the MyGov portal from August 15 to 20. At 12 locations, including the India Gate, New Delhi Railway Station, Vijay Chowk, National War Memorial, Pragati Maidan, ITO Metro Gate, Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, Raj Ghat, Jama Masjid Metro Station, Delhi Gate Metro Station, Naubat Khana, and Sheesh Ganj Gurudwara, selfie points have been installed to promote various government programs and initiatives.

To enter the contest, people are urged to take selfies at one or more of the 12 installations and upload them to the MyGov platform. Each of the twelve winners will receive a prize of Rs 10,000; one will be chosen from each installation.

Modi will review the guard of honor before making his way to the Red Fort’s ramparts, where the defence minister will meet him, his deputy, Gen. Anil Chauhan, the chief of the military staff, Manoj Pande, the admiral in charge of the navy, Admiral R. Hari Kumar, and Air Force Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari.

According to the announcement, the national flag will subsequently be raised when Gen Seth leads the prime minister to the dais on the ramparts.

“The Tricolour will be given a ‘Rashtriya Salute’ after being unfurled. The national anthem will be played by the Army band, which consists of one JCO (junior commissioned officer) and 20 other ranks, during the raising of the flag and rendering of the Rashtriya Salute. Naib Subedar Jatinder Singh would lead the band, it stated.

According to the announcement, raising the national flag will coincide with a 21-gun salute by the elite 8,711 Field Battery (Ceremonial).

The Rashtriya Salute will be performed by the National Flag Guard, which consists of five officers and 128 other ranks from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Delhi Police when the Prime Minister raises the Tricolour, it was added. After the Tricolour is raised, two Indian Air Force Advanced Light Helicopters Mark-III Dhruvs in Line Astern formation will drop flower petals at the event.