The Hindu : New Delhi News : Republic Day floats speak for themselves

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 20, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Republic Day floats speak for themselves

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

NEW DELHI: Lined up in the green room at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here in Delhi, the participating tableaux for the upcoming Republic Day Parade on January 26 tell their own story with their themes varying from industrial progress to national heritage and from traditional arts to legendary personalities.

The floats are being built at the stadium by 500-odd artisans and workers who have come here from various parts of the country. And working alongside are fabricators and designers responsible for creating synergy between the creative element and the theme of the float.

Karnataka, the winner of best float last year, is confident of bagging a prize this year again. "Depicting the Mysore Dasara, our artisans and dancers who will perform on the float at Rajpath have been put up in the stadium complex itself. The traditional nadaswaram troupe, the century-old and most impressive Mysore police band, and the vibrant veeragaase dance by male artistes are all part of the cultural extravaganza of the memorable procession,'' said a member of the Karnataka float.

Delhi this year will be coming up with a mix of modernity and tradition with the depiction of Kotla Feroze Shah built way back in 1354 on the banks of the Yamuna. Also shown will be Kashmere Gate, which even today links the new city to Old Secretariat and Delhi University. The nation will also get a first hand glimpse of the pride of the city, Delhi Metro.

Construction of the project started on October 1, 1998, and it now has 56 km of corridors in the Capital with a 22-km-long Line-I from Shahdara to Rithala, 11 km underground section of Line-II from Vishwavidyalaya to Central Secretariat, and the 23 km Line-III from Barakhamba Road to Dwarka.

However, the float that is expected to be the focus of attention this year is the entry from the Andamanas, which is depicting "100 Years of Cellular Jail''. Now a national memorial, the liberation of the Andamans as a prison for political prisoners was symbolically significant. The Andamans, where our patriots suffered, was the first to be liberated in India's fight for Independence.

Other floats to look out for include those of Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Goa, and Jammu and Kashmir. In all, there will be floats from 16 States, five Union Ministries and three Central Departments.

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