Vande Mataram echoes at Red Fort for first time on Independence Day

For the first time, the national song 'Vande Mataram' was rendered at the Red Fort during the Independence Day celebrations on August 15. The rendition was part of the commemoration of 150 years of the song, with floral decorations on the ramparts depicting the national flag flanked by the words 'Vande Mataram' in Hindi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the celebrations amid patriotic fervour and multi-layer security. An Army band played the tune of 'Vande Mataram' as dignitaries and guests sang along. This was followed by the Prime Minister hoisting the national flag, after which the national anthem was recited. The tricolour received a 'Rashtriya Salute'.

Two Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force then showered flower petals at the venue. One helicopter carried the national flag, while the other carried a flag depicting 'Vande Mataram'.

'Vande Mataram' was composed in 1875 by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. It was first published in the literary journal 'Bangadarshan' on November 7, 1875, and later incorporated into his novel 'Anandamath' in 1882. The song was set to music by Rabindranath Tagore, who first sang it 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'. It became a rallying cry during the freedom movement and was adopted as India's national song by the Constituent Assembly in 1950.

The government had launched the year-long celebration of 150 years of 'Vande Mataram' in November 2024. The rendering of the song at the Red Fort is seen as a symbolic tribute to its enduring legacy and its role in India's struggle for independence.