The Hindu : New Delhi News : Rashtrapati Bhavan to come closer to people

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 15, 2007
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New Delhi

Rashtrapati Bhavan to come closer to people

Staff Reporter

Ceremonial change of guard to be thrown open for public view

NEW DELHI: Shielded behind heavily guarded gates, the awe-inspiring Rashtrapati Bhavan will no longer be impervious to the curiosity of the masses. A slew of programmes have been designed in an attempt to demystify the heritage building and to make it a must-see on the tourists’ itinerary.

To bring the place “closer to the people”, the imposing gates of the President’s residence will be thrown open beginning this Saturday when people will be able to watch the ceremonial change of guard at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for the first time ever.

People can join the accoutred soldiers — on foot and mounted on horses — from the foothills of the Raisina Hills to the gates of the President’s House as the carry out the change of guard ceremony.

However, owing to security constraints, only those who have prior permission to visit the Rashtrapati Bhavan will be allowed to walk into the precincts.

Officials at the Rashtrapti Bhavan are hopeful that the ceremony will help draw in more crowds. “We are reinventing and presenting the ceremony in a new way, and it has a purpose, the President wants to bring the Rashtrapati Bhavan closer to the people,” Dr. Christy Fernandez, Secretary to the President said addressing the media on Friday.

The change of guard ceremony is similar to the one that is carried out at Buckingham Palace in London.

Pointing out that the Rashtrapti Bhavan signifies India’s democracy and is a people’s institution, Dr. Fernandez said the aim is to make the place more than just a heritage building and infuse a sense of national pride in the masses as the witness the ceremony.

Enhancing tourism

“Tourism is an upcoming sector in India and we hope to make this (ceremony) a part of the every tourist’s itinerary. The 30-minute ceremony will take place every Saturday at 8 a.m. in summers and 10 a.m. in winters. And about 500-700 people can watch it on any given day.”

The President’s secretariat has tied up with Delhi tourism, prominent hotels and tour operators to ensure that President’s residence and the ceremony find a place on the visitors’ agenda.

To draw in more crowds the President’s office is also contemplating more cultural programmes to be hosted at the Rashtrapati Bhavan auditorium. “There are many upcoming artists and we are thinking of increasing the periodicity of their performance in the auditorium. We are also looking at opening more area except the core area of the Rashtrapti Bhavan to public. The President wishes to make it a people’s institution,” Dr. Fernandez said.

He said additions to the gardens of the Rashtrapati Bhavan are also on the cards: “We are thinking of planting a tree for each of the 27 nakshatras.”

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