Quick quiz. . . . when is Independence Day? Why is it not celebrated on its date? August 15, 1947 was the actual date that the English left peacefully after 200 years in India. Republic Day began on January 26, 1950 with the signing of the Indian Constitution.
For those who are familiar with weather in August in India, it is not the best for a huge military parade and outdoor celebration because that is the very center of monsoon season when the rain blows in and descends in sheets to fill the rivers and wells for the whole year. I couldn’t find that on line but it makes sense to me. Weather in January is lovely for visitors and fine for Indians in wool coats and hats so the huge celebration for democracy is in January.
This is Dr. Singh of the Congress Party which has been in power most of the time since independence 65 years ago. He is a Sikh, recognizable by the turban. He is also a trained (in England) medical doctor. His term is over when the national elections take place in May of this year.
The Indians learned many things from the British, and one is elegant uniforms and long, majestic parades and ceremonies. There are videos on YouTube but they were so long, I knew you wouldn’t want to see all that. This year there was live streaming during the celebration of national pride and hundreds of thousands have watched it. I decided on a few images to set the mood for you to get a taste. I actually watched some of this last year in 2013 from Ahmedabad on the TV.
Dramatic, patriotic music, and marching to the tunes in perfect step!
This is amazing. . . . . uniformed soldiers with their rifles, riding on camels!
This is the camel guard stretched across the bridge, protecting the PM and dignitaries below!
Here is the clash of antiquity and modernity. My favorite shot!
And what celebration in India is complete without dancers?
Best wishes to incredible India , the largest democracy on the planet, for many more prosperous years and “liberty and justice for all!”
Google Images, Public Domain
This Is Incredible India!
TalesAlongTheWay 
Loved reading your blog. Really. Your blog is filled with positivity and not like most of the people who highlight the negative side of India. Like the saying goes “beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder” . What you want to see you will see. Thanks for such lovely blog.
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I was going to tell you I have lots of posts on India. If you go to my blog to the categories…click on India and you will see them all!
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Yes I am already in your blog exploring different topics. There are many more titles which i am going to read. Great blog. 🙂
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So glad!
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He has a real servant’s heart for sure!
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Excellent post. Love the background and reason for the January date, makes perfect sense. Love the photo of the camel guard…silhouettes are so cool. Happy Year of the Horse!
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So glad you enjoyed this.
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Gandhi devoted most of his life trying to get England out of India.
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You are right. Here is a post about a very interesting book on the partisan and the four men intimately involved ,Gandhi, Nehru, Jimmah, and Montebaum . If you enjoy reading it, I highly recommend it. I love history and it is written in a lovely narrative style. I think it is available on Kindle. I read a hard copy from the library.
https://talesalongtheway.com/?s=India+Summer
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If you are a reader, I really recommend The Indian Summer about particain and the four men who negotiated it. Gandhi, of course , was one.
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I love my India, good writing, join Republic Day parade to experience culural diversity of the nation.
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I love your incredible India, too. Thanks for the visit! Please return again soon and often!
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I love your incredible India, too. Thanks for the visit. Please return again soon and often.
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