This year, like many other events, Independence Day celebration at will also see significant changes at the Red Fort.
Every year on Independence Day, the Prime Minister of India addresses to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort Delhi. It is one of the most awaited national events of the country. The event, along with patriotic significance, holds cultural values as well.
While, Prime Minister Narendra will continue the tradition this year too, Red fort will reflect a different light of a nation in the middle of a global pandemic.
According to media reports, number of invitees for the Independence Day celebration at Red Fort have been cut to 250 from the usual figure of 1,000.
According to a report published in The Indian Express, the Independence Day celebrations will witness a different mood as “No schoolchildren, a pared-down list of dignitaries, chairs instead of rugs for seating in several areas and police in PPE” will be seen at the Red Fort.
“At the Red Fort, instead of the 900-1,000 invitees every year, around 250 people will be present as the Prime Minister addresses the nation,” an official with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) told The Indian Express.
Presence of schoolchildren at the event has always been an integral part of the Independence Day ceremony. Every year, children from different part of the country gather wearing colours of the tricolor and sing the national anthem at the end of the prime minister’s address.
“This year, children will not take part due to the pandemic, except for NCC cadets. Social distancing will be maintained, staff will be in PPE kits, and there will be a number of sanitisation points,” The Indian Express quoted a source as saying.
Apart from this, it has been speculated that the government is planning to honour corona warriors for their contribution amid the pandemic on Independence Day.
Meanwhile, the preparations have been started at the Red Fort. The fort will be shut for public viewing from August 1 to August 7.