The Culture Ministry’s tableau for this year’s Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path celebrated 150 years of the national song, Vande Mataram, tracing its journey from Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s original
composition to a colonial-era recording by a renowned Marathi singer, and finally to a contemporary rendition performed by a group representing the ‘Gen Z’.
Titled “Vande Mataram: The Soul-Cry of a Nation”, the tableau’s foreground featured an artistic depiction of the song being composed, with a panel below showcasing an image of Chatterjee himself.
The central section brought together performers in traditional attire, highlighting India’s rich folk diversity, alongside younger performers in modern dress, symbolising the song’s resonance across generations. About 2,500 artists, representing every state and union territory of India, performed on the national song to mark its 150th anniversary.
