Republic Day Celebrations to Start from January 23

Celebrations will now begin a day Earlier


New Delhi: The Republic Day celebrations will now begin from January 23 instead of January 24 every year to include the birth anniversary of legendary freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose, told government sources.

"Narendra Modi government focus on celebrating and commemorating important aspects of our history and culture," the sources said.

The government had started the celebration of Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary as Parakram Divas.

Sources added, Other such days, observance of which have become an annual affair, are August 14 as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, October 31 as National Unity Day (birth anniversary of Sardar Patel), November 15 as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (Birsa Munda's birth anniversary), November 26 as Constitution Day and December 26 as Veer Baal Divas (a tribute to the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh).

The government has drawn up plans to promote sites across the country associated with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Last year, in October, news agency PTI had reported that the Tourism Ministry was planning curated tours as part of events to commemorate the anniversary of the formation of the Azad Hind government, the provisional government that was announced by Bose on October 21, 1943.

An official was quoted as saying by PTI, “Identification of such sites has been done and will include multiple routes. We have prepared curated itineraries that cover destinations connected to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The itineraries will be given to tour operators to promote sites related to Netaji.” 

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