Indians are celebrating 67th Republic Day today. One of the biggest highlights this year is that the President of France Francois Hollande has attended the Republic Day parade event at Delhi as a chief guest. Here we are disclosing, how and where India celebrated its first Republic Day.
At the most solemn ceremony held in the brilliantly lit and high domes of Durbar Hall at Government House in Delhi, India was declared an Independent Democratic Republic exactly at 18 minutes past 10 on the morning of January 26, 1950.
Six minutes later, Dr Rajendra Prasad was sworn in as President. In a remarkable swearing-in ceremony, the retiring Governor General, C Rajagopalachari, read out the proclamation of the Republic.
The President then took the oath and made a brief speech, first in Hindi and then English. Close to 15,000 people who had gathered at the amphitheatre witnessed the historic moment. Here is the picture of first Republic Day parade in 1950.