Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Historic First: Vande Mataram Rendered at Red Fort Independence Day
Every year on August 15, India celebrates its Independence Day at a famous fort called the Red Fort.
This year, the leader of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, went there to raise the Indian flag.
For the very first time since independence, a special song called 'Vande Mataram' was played at this big celebration.
An Army band played it, and everyone sang along.
After that, everyone recited the country's national anthem.
Two Indian Air Force helicopters flew overhead and dropped flower petals.
Cannons fired a special 21-gun salute to mark the special moment.
'Vande Mataram' is a very old song, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875, and it became a rallying cry during India's freedom struggle.
This year's celebration marked the song's 150-year anniversary.
Recently, the government gave the song the same legal protection as the national anthem.
For the first time since Independence, 'Vande Mataram' was rendered at the Red Fort during the Independence Day celebrations, followed by the national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana'.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 80th Independence Day celebrations and hoisted the national flag from the Red Fort ramparts.
The ceremony commemorated 150 years of the national song, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875, as part of a year-long government celebration.
An Army band played the tune, the tricolour received a 'Rashtriya Salute', a 21-gun salute was fired, and two Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force showered flower petals.
President Droupadi Murmu approved the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, giving 'Vande Mataram' the same legal protection as the National Anthem.
Historical 21-gun salute and flower petal shower by two Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopters marked the flag hoisting.
The deliberate disruption of singing the National Song can now invite penalties, including imprisonment, a fine, or both.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the celebrations, with President Droupadi Murmu, an Army band, the 1721 Field Battery (Ceremonial), and two Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force taking part.
- What
- For the first time since Independence, the national song 'Vande Mataram' was rendered during Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, followed by the national anthem, a 'Rashtriya Salute', a 21-gun salute, and an aerial flower petal shower.
- When
- August 15, 2026 - articles describe the event as both the 80th Independence Day celebrations and the 79th anniversary of independence.
- Where
- Red Fort complex, New Delhi, India.
- Why
- To commemorate 150 years of the national song 'Vande Mataram', written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875, as part of a year-long celebration launched by the government last November.
- Event
- 80th Independence Day celebrations (79th anniversary of independence)
- Date and Venue
- August 15, 2026, Red Fort, New Delhi
- Historic first
- 'Vande Mataram' rendered at Red Fort during Independence Day celebrations
- Ceremonial elements
- 21-gun salute by the 1721 Field Battery, 'Rashtriya Salute', Army band rendition, flower petal shower by two Mi-17 helicopters
- Composer
- Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, written in 1875
- Adopted as national song
- 1950, by the Constituent Assembly
- First sung by
- Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 Congress Session in Calcutta (now Kolkata)
- Legal protection
- Same as National Anthem, via the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026
Sources
Vande Mataram played for first time during Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort
'Vande Mataram' played at Red Fort for first time since India's Independence
Historic First At Red Fort: 'Vande Mataram' Rendered During 80th Independence Day Celebrations | Video
Vande Mataram echoes at Red Fort as PM hoists national flag
