On India’s 79th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the tricolor flag at the Red Fort. He was assisted by Flying Officer Rashika Sharma, and two Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force showered flower petals on the event. The helicopters were piloted by Wing Commander Vinay Poonia and Wing Commander Aditya Jaiswal.
Before the main event, the Prime Minister visited Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. At the Red Fort, he was welcomed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, MoS Defence Sanjay Seth, and the chiefs of the three armed services. He also received a guard of honor from the Indian Air Force, Army, Navy, and Delhi Police, led by Wing Commander Arun Nagar.
This year’s celebrations were themed ‘Naya Bharat’ (New India), reflecting the goal of achieving a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) by 2047. The ‘Naya Bharat’ logo was formed by 2,500 cadets and ‘My Bharat’ volunteers.
To encourage public participation, around 5,000 special guests were invited to the event, including:
- The Indian contingent for the Special Olympics 2025
- Winners of international sports events
- Gold medalists from the Khelo India Para Games
- Farmers and entrepreneurs from various government schemes
- Best-performing Sarpanches and students
- Self-help groups and interns
In a new initiative, military and police bands from across the country will perform at over 140 locations on the evening of Independence Day to celebrate the national spirit and mark the victory of ‘Operation Sindoor’. Additionally, the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan’ (Tricolor at Every Home Campaign) and ‘Tiranga Yatra’ (Tricolor March) were held nationwide to promote patriotism.
