Republic Day 2021: Parade to feature 321 school children, 80 folk artists in cultural programme

File pic: PTI

New Delhi: School children from four Delhi schools and folk artists from East Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata will participate in the cultural programme during the Republic Day Parade to be held at Rajpath on January 26, 2021, said a government statement. 

Ministry of Defence and Directorate of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi have selected 401 students and artists - 271 girls and 131 boys – from DTEA Senior Secondary Schools, Delhi; Mount Abu Public School, Rohini, Delhi; Vidya Bharti School, Rohini, Delhi; Government Girls Senior Secondary School, B-2, Yamuna Vihar, Delhi and Eastern Zonal  Cultural Centre, Kolkata, according to Ministry of Defence statement.

AATMA Nirbhar Bharat: Vision for a self-reliant India is the theme of Mount Abu Public School, Delhi and Vidya Bharti School,  Delhi in which  38 boys and 54 girls will participate. 

102 students of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Delhi will present a programme on the theme “ Hum Fit toh India Fit” inspired by the Fit India Movement launched by Prime Minister  Shri Narendra Modi on National Sports Day on 29th August 2019.

127 children from DTEA Senior Secondary Schools, Delhi will showcase folk dances of Tamil Nadu in their traditional attires.

Eighty folk artists of Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata will present the folk dance Bajasal from  Kalahandi, Odisha.  

During a press preview held on January 13, 2021, the young participants expressed their happiness to be part of Republic Day Parade. They said that they were overwhelmed with a sense of pride as they have got a chance to showcase their talent before important dignitaries on Rajpath.

The number of participating children and folk artists has been cut down to 400 this year, compared to more than 600 last year, in view of the Covid-19 restrictions.