Archive · 11 Aug 2026

Vande Mataram to be sung from Red Fort ramparts for first Independence Day

On August 15, India will celebrate its 80th Independence Day, and for the very first time the national song 'Vande Mataram' will be sung from the walls of the Red Fort in Delhi.

This year marks 150 years since the song was written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who first published it in his book 'Anandamath' in 1882.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive at the fort, the song will play while everyone stands, and then he will raise the national flag and the national anthem will be played.

The celebration's theme is 'Yuva Shakti', which celebrates the power and achievements of young people.

Students who won science olympiad medals, young engineers and entrepreneurs working on space technology, and about 5,000 other achievers have been invited to the event.

The government printed all six stanzas of the song on the invitation cards.

A new law now protects the national song, and deliberately insulting it could mean a jail sentence of up to three years.

However, some Muslim organisations object to singing the full song because they say its verses mention Hindu gods and goddesses, which goes against their religious beliefs.

The Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, has also been invited to attend.