For the first time in the history of Red Fort celebrations, Vande Mataram will be performed during the flag-hoisting ceremony on the 80th Independence Day, officials confirmed. According to sources, the national song will be played before the national anthem, and invitation cards issued by the Defence Ministry this year carry all six stanzas of its lyrics. The cards, sent to ministers, military officers, bureaucrats, diplomats and students attending the event, also feature an image of Seva Teerth, which houses the Prime Minister’s Office, along with a list of fundamental duties.
The move follows Parliament’s recent passage of legislation granting Vande Mataram equal status with the national anthem. Officials said the decision reflects the song’s expanding role in official national ceremonies, marking 150 years since its composition. Earlier this year, the 77th Republic Day celebrations were themed around Vande Mataram, with ministry and state tableaux built on the same idea.
The Indian Army marked the anniversary with band performances at 18 locations nationwide, including Naihati in West Bengal, birthplace of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who composed the song in the 1870s. Officials described the inclusion as a significant shift in the annual Red Fort ceremony’s format.
