For nearly 80 years, the Red Fort’s Independence Day ritual followed a fixed pattern: the Prime Minister’s arrival, the flag hoisting, and the national anthem, with no formal place for Vande Mataram in the official sequence. When the song was performed at all in ceremonial settings, it was typically limited to its opening two stanzas, describing the motherland’s beauty and abundance. The later four stanzas, carrying more explicit imagery invoking the nation as a goddess, were routinely left out of official renditions.
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What Changed In 2026
That changed this year, which marks 150 years since Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay composed Vande Mataram in 1875. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh confirmed the new ceremonial order: the Prime Minister arrives on the rampart, the national song is played while everyone stands, the flag is unfurled, and only then does the national anthem follow. In February 2026, the Union Home Ministry had already issued guidelines directing that all six stanzas of the National Song be rendered in full whenever it is performed alongside the anthem.
How The Moment Unfolded At Red Fort
On the day, an Army band played Vande Mataram as invited guests joined in singing, before Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the flag and the national anthem was recited. The Red Fort ramparts were decorated with floral displays of the national flag flanked by “Vande Mataram” written in Hindi, while two Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopters showered flower petals, one carrying the national flag and the other a banner marking the song’s 150-year legacy. Around 2,500 NCC cadets and My Bharat volunteers formed the words “वंदे मातरम्” on Gyanpath, facing the ramparts.
