Full Dress Rehearsal for 68th Republic Day Parade in Pictures

In this year’s Republic Day parade, the tableau will reportedly depict the Yak Dance. It is unarguably one of the most famous pantomimes of the Mahayana sect of Buddhist tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. It is a depiction of an ancient tale of family and a yak which solved the problems of the family and signifies the presence of ‘health, wealth and happiness of the Mahayana Buddhist tribes.

The tableau of Assam will portray the Kamakhya shrine of Guwahati. Known for its relevance in the socio-cultural context of India, Kamakhya is considered to be one of the greatest shrine to worship ‘Shakti’ the female counterpart of Shiva. Pilgrims from world over visit this shrine during the Ambubasi fair which is considered as a holy period. The importance of the shrine lies in the fact that there are no idols in the temple to worship. Instead there is a natural crack which reportedly resembles a female genital and it reportedly bleeds during the Ambubasi period signifying menstruation.

The tableau of Delhi will portray the transformation of school education in India, particularly focusing on the recent initiatives taken for quality enhancement in this field. The recent upgradation of government schools in Delhi into Model schools is one such step. In this regard, the most interesting fact about the Delhi tableau is that this year will be the comeback of Delhi tableau after 3 years.

This year the tableau of Goa will focus on the musical heritage of the state. As the musical heritage of Goa has varied influences and each from varied regimes and this will be depicted using various musical and dance forms. The tableau will reportedly be shaped in a unique way. The front of it will be shaped like a peacock and on it fibre figurines of a lady playing ghumat, which is a percussion instrument made from earthen pot, will be placed.

The prime focus of this year’s Gujarat tableau will be to exhibit the art and lifestyle of Kutch, PIB states. Kutch is known for its art and lifestyle and there are reportedly 16 types of embroidery practised in the state. The front part of the tableau will display women working upon some embroidery in ‘symbolic form’. The rear of the tableau will reportedly show the famous cobbler embroidery art, along with Dabda, Kutchi camel embroidered fabric amongst other displays.

Embedded with the motto ‘Beti bachao, Beti padhao’ (Save daughters, educate daughters), this tableau will focus on the initiative by the government to eradicate female infanticide and literacy amongst girls. The initiative will thus be the prime display in the tableau focusing on the importance and role of female, thus spreading awareness and educating in the process.

Chamba Rumal is a unique specimen of Pahari art flourishing in Chamba town of Himachal Pradesh during the late 18th century. These Rumal, something similar to handkerchief , contains hand woven embroidery which depicts scenes from ancient legends and myths. Reportedly, the Himachal tableau will present the essence of this art.

The tableau of Jammu and Kashmir will reportedly showcase  the tradition and evolving winter sports at Gulmarg, the world famous tourist destination in the state. It would be interesting to see how the chilling Gulmarg winter sports will be depicted in the tableau.

Concentrating on the folk dances of Karnataka, the tableau will showcase the Goravas, worshipers of Shiva engaged in the ritualistic dance. Wearing caps made of bear hair, they will dance to drums and flutes. This will be followed by sword wielding warriors performing a dance along with other dancers. The visual experience will be completed by a dancer attired in attractive mask forming the ensemble of Somas dancers.

Lakshadweep which is a set of islands in the Arabian Sea is an unexplored tourist destination. Unlike the Andaman and Nicober islands in the Bay of Bengal which sees tourists from world over, Lakshadweep seems less explored. The objective of the tableau will be thus to attract more tourist footfall and advertise the ideas of ‘nature tourism’ and ‘adventure sports’ as the island is abundant with diving spots, rich ecosystem, marine wealth amongst many other attractive features.

With this year being commemorated as the 160th birth anniversary of Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak, freedom fighter and a social reformer, the Maharashtra tableau will specifically pay tribute to him and through the depiction will commemorate his 160th birth anniversary. Writer, orator, journalist and a mathematician, Tilak initiated the celebration of Ganesh Utsav and Shivjayanti Utsav, apparently to  bring about social awakening and unity in the fight against foreign rule, this year also mark 125 years of this initiation and hence, it is a big deal and will receive the prime focus of the Maharashtra tableau.

The ancient theatre tradition of Manipur, Lai Haraoba will be the focus of this year’s tableau of Manipur. PIB states that the tableau is an attempt to recreate the ambience of this ‘quaint’ and rich cultural tradition with a replica of the local deities and the dance of the devotees and the priestess. This ancinet tradition preserved by the Meiteis must be watch for the transcendental trait of it.

This year’s tableau of Odisha (previously Orissa) will depict teh Bhakti culture tradition of ‘Dola jatra’. The festival signifying the journey of Radha and Krishna for ‘ultimate union’ coincides with Holi. It consists of a procession of people smeared in Abira, which is a purple coloured powder and dancing with traditional music and song. The essence of this grand festival is expected to be depicted in the tableau.

The tableau of Punjab this year is based on the theme of ‘Jago’, which is a festival of dance full of energy and celebrations and is celebrated the night before a Punjabi wedding. A pot decorated with oil lamps is carried on the head while dancing and singing songs of ‘Jago’ tradition. This mood of the festivity is expected to be stimulated in the parade, showcasing an important trait of the Punjabi culture.

A popular folk dance form of Tamil Nadu ‘Karakattam’ performed mostly in festivals in temples. It includes the dancers balancing brass pots and a wooden parrot at the top and dancing to drum beats and this is what the tableau is expected to display this year. This festival celebrated mostly in Amman Temple festivals in the rural areas of Tamil Nadu is an interesting dance forms and is guaranteed to entertain.

One of the eight North-Eastern states, Tripura has a rich form of culture and in this year’s tableau of the state the focus will be on ‘Hojagiri’ a Reang Tribal Dance of Tripura as a theme. Performed by women and young girls, in numbers of 4 to 6 in a team, singing and balancing earthen pitcher and other props like earthen lamp while moving only the lower half of the body. Performed on the occasion of the Hojagiri festivals, this theme of the tableau is sure to bring this tradition to the forefront and thrill the audience.

The advent of the festive season of autumn and finally the Durga puja festival, it is also known as ‘Sharod Utsav’. So this year’s tableau of West Bengal will try bringing that experience to the audience of the Republic Day parade. The arts, crafts and stylized element along with the festive spirit of the Sharod Utsav is sure to mesmerise the crowd and present the richest trait of the culture of Bengal.

Picture Courtesy: Press Information Bureau
Source: PIB