Every year, January 26 is celebrated in India to commemorate the day when our constitution came into effect back in 1950.
R-Day in times of COVID-19
However, the Republic Day parade this year will be slightly different because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The parade will reportedly begin from Vijay Chowk and end at National Stadium, covering a distance of just 3.3 kms instead of 8.2 kms.
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When do the Republic Day festivities begin and end?
The festivities for this special day begin on January 26 morning when the Prime Minister goes to the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate and lays a wreath to honour the martyrs who lost their lives while fighting for the country.
The celebrations go on for around four days.
On January 29, a beating retreat takes place at the Vijay Chowk that marks the end of the Republic Day celebrations.
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What is the route of the Republic Day parade?
The parade will go from Vijay Chowk via Rajpath, Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate Princess Palace, Tilak Marg and culminates at India Gate.
No chief guests in 2021
For the first in 55 years, India will not have a foreign dignity as a chief guest at the Republic Day parade.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had earlier accepted the invitation for the parade but cancelled his visit amid fears over the new strain of COVID-19 infection.
“Due to the global COVID-19 situation, it has been decided that this year there will not be any foreign head of state or government as the chief guest for our Republic Day event,” said MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava.
(With Agency Inputs)