Women will be the focus of the 75th Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path on January 26 with the themes "Viksit Bharat" and "Bharat - Loktantra ki Matruka." According to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, "India is truly a mother of democracy," the themes have been chosen accordingly. At Kartavya Path, tableaus celebrating "women empowerment" are set to take center stage on Republic Day. The Center's motto, "Viksit Bharat," aims to make the program focused on women.
For the first time, 100 female musicians playing Indian musical instruments will lead the parade. Women artists would open the parade with music from Sankh, Naadswaram, Nagada, and other genres.
During the parade, a total of 25 tableaux, 16 states, UTs, and nine Ministries and Departments, will roll down the Kartavya Path. Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Ladakh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana are among the states and union territories whose tableaus will be featured on Republic Day.
The tableaus will highlight the vital roles that women play in socioeconomic efforts. In the Manipur tableau, women will be working with the delicate fibers from the lotus stems and using traditional "charkhas" to make yarns. The tableau's front will show a woman gathering lotus stems from Loktak Lake in Manipur. The tableau's sides will feature images of women riding boats and gathering lotus stems. A replica of the distinctive all-women's market known as "Ima Keithel" has been constructed after the Manipur tableau. The market is run entirely by women and dates back centuries.
The Madhya Pradesh tableau will highlight the achievements of the state in bringing women directly into the process of development through its welfare schemes. The tableau will showcase independent and forward-thinking Madhya Pradeshi women and demonstrate how they actively engage in a range of fields, from small-scale industries and traditional domains to the modern service sector.
Avani Chaturvedi, the first female fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force from Madhya Pradesh, will be featured in the tableau next to a model of a fighter aircraft. The exhibition will showcase female potters, Chanderi's Badal Mahal gate, and the weavers of the world-famous Chanderi, Maheshwar, and Bagh print sarees.
The tableau from Rajasthan will show how the state's festive culture and women's handicraft industries have developed. A dancer mannequin and a stunning statue of Meera Bai, who is revered as a symbol of strength and devotion, will be used in the tableau to recreate the famous Ghoomar dance of Rajasthan. A glimpse of the rich handicraft traditions, such as bandhej, bagru print, and applique work, will also be showcased in the tableau.
Haryana's Republic Day tableau will showcase women's empowerment through the government program 'Mera Parivar - Meri Pehchan', showcasing Haryanvi women using digital devices for government schemes.
Odisha's Republic Day tableau will highlight women's involvement in traditional arts through their participation in handicrafts and handloom sectors.
Chhattisgarh's tableau will showcase Bastar's 'Muria Darbar', a 600-year-old tribal tradition of community decision-making. The tableau aligns with the national theme, 'India is the mother of democracy', highlighting the equal involvement of men and women in decision-making, featuring traditional bell metals and terracotta artifacts.
Andhra Pradesh's Republic Day tableau will focus on transforming school education and equipping students for global competitiveness.
Ladakh's tableau will showcase the Indian women's ice hockey team, comprised of renowned Ladakhi women, showcasing their achievements and sports contributions.
