Historic First: Vande Mataram Played at Red Fort During I-Day Celebrations

Vande Mataram Red Fort: Vande Mataram was played at the Red Fort for the first time during Independence Day celebrations marking 150 years of the national song.

By Sakshi.

New Delhi, August 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other guests witnessed a historic moment at the Red Fort on Friday as 'Vande Mataram' was played for the first time during the Independence Day celebrations at the iconic venue, marking 150 years of the national song.

An Army band played the tune of 'Vande Mataram', followed by the hoisting of the national flag and the rendition of the national anthem.

The mega event commemorated 150 years of the enduring legacy of 'Vande Mataram'. Floral decorations on the Red Fort ramparts depicted the national flag at the centre, flanked by the words 'Vande Mataram' in Hindi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort

amid patriotic fervour and tight security.

Vande Mataram was played at Red Fort for the first time as India marked 150 years of its national song. (Image Source: PIB)

An Army band played the tune of 'Vande Mataram' as guests present at the venue sang the national song. This was followed by the prime minister hoisting the national flag and the national anthem being rendered.

After the flag hoisting, the Tricolour received a 'Rashtriya Salute'.

Flower petals were then showered over the venue by two Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force. One helicopter carried the national flag, while the other carried a flag depicting 'Vande Mataram'.

Story of Vande Mataram

Written in 1875 by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, 'Vande Mataram' became a rallying cry during India's freedom movement. It was recognised as India's National Song by the Constituent Assembly in 1950.

The government launched a year-long celebration last November to mark 150 years of 'Vande Mataram'.

'Vande Mataram' was initially composed independently and was later incorporated into Chatterjee's novel Anandamath. It was first sung by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 Congress session in Calcutta, now Kolkata.

The chant 'Vande Mataram' was first used as a political slogan on August 7, 1905, according to a government note titled 150 Years of Vande Mataram: A Melody That Became a Movement, shared on November 6 last year.

'Vande Mataram' was first published in the literary journal Bangadarshan on November 7, 1875. Chatterjee later incorporated the hymn into Anandamath, which was published in 1882. The song was set to music by Tagore, according to the government note.