Republic Day celebrations to start from Jan 23

To coincide with the birth date of liberation fighter Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, the Republic Day celebrations will now begin on January 23 rather than January 24 each year.

To mark Bose’s birth anniversary, the Narendra Modi government declared January 23 as “Parakram Diwas” last year.

According to official sources, the current move is in keeping with the Central government’s focus on honoring or celebrating essential aspects of India’s history and culture.

Other commemorative days include August 14 as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, October 31 as National Unity Day (Sardar Patel’s birthday), November 15 as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (Birsa Munda’s birthday), November 26 as Constitution Day, and December 26 as Veer Baal Divas (a tribute to Guru Gobind Singh’s four sons), according to sources.

As part of festivities commemorating the anniversary of the founding of the Azad Hind government, the temporary government established by Bose on October 21, 1943, the Centre has devised plans to promote sites across the country linked with Bose through guided tours.

“Such sites have been identified, and multiple ways will be used. We’ve put together selected itineraries that include places associated with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.