R-Day Parade 2021: Tableau to Showcase Production of COVID Vaccine in India’s Fight Against Pandemic

by  EVENTFAQS Bureau Industry Watch | January 25, 2021 | News

Republic Day Parade 2021 Vijay Chowk National Stadium Indian Air Force East Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata

The customary grand parade organised at the Rajpath in New Delhi on Republic Day to showcase the country's defence capabilities, diversity and rich cultural heritage will be held on a much smaller scale this year.

In a befitting reflection of the current situation, a tableau of the Department of Biotechnology will showcase the indigenous production of COVID vaccine, and India’s self-reliance in the fight against the pandemic.

There will be no foreign head of state as Chief Guest, like all previous years. The number of participating children and folk artistes have been cut down to 400 this year, compared to more than 600 last year, in view of the COVID-19 restrictions. The parade will begin from Vijay Chowk and end at the National Stadium, covering a distance of just 3.3 km instead of 8.2 km.Only 25,000 spectators will be allowed to witness the Republic Day parade and people with co-morbidities and children below 15 won't be allowed to watch it live.

Among the highlights of the parade, there will be the Rafale fighter jets doing a ‘Vertical Charlie’ at the end of the flypast. The Indian Air Force (IAF) will also display a vintage Dakota aircraft, Apache and Chinook choppers which will catch visitors’ attention during the event. This year, a 122-member contingent from Bangladesh's armed forces will be part of the parade.

The Ladakh tableau, which is making its debut in the parade, will depict the Thikse Monastery and the region’s rich cultural heritage. The Uttar Pradesh tableau will display a model of the upcoming Ram temple. A total of 32 tableaux - 17 of States and UTs, nine of ministries and six from the Defence arm - will roll down Rajpath.

School children from four Delhi schools and folk artistes from the East Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata will take part in the cultural programme during the parade. The Ministry of Defence and Directorate of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi have selected 401 students and artistes - 271 girls and 131 boys – from DTEA Senior Secondary Schools, Delhi; Mount Abu Public School, Rohini, Delhi; Vidya Bharti School, Rohini, Delhi; Government Girls Senior Secondary School, B-2, Yamuna Vihar, Delhi and Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata.

‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat: Vision for a self-reliant India’ is the theme of Mount Abu Public School, Delhi and Vidya Bharti School, students of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Delhi will present a programme on the theme ‘Hum Fit toh India Fit’ inspired by the Fit India Movement launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Due to COVID-19 safety norms, gravity-defying stunts by motorcycle-borne men, a major attraction for the crowd during Republic Day celebrations on the Rajpath, will be missing this year. Besides, the parade of gallantry awardees and children who have earned bravery awards will also not be there at the 72nd Republic Day event.

At least 100 meritorious students from schools and colleges will get a chance to see the Republic Day parade from the Prime Minister's box on Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Education. The students will also get to interact with Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' after the parade.