Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Vande Mataram Resonates at Red Fort on 80th Independence Day
India celebrated its 80th Independence Day on Saturday, August 15.
The big celebration happened at the Red Fort, a very famous fort in Delhi.
For the very first time, a special song called 'Vande Mataram' was sung there during an Independence Day celebration.
The song is 150 years old and was written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said this was a historic moment because the song had never echoed from the Red Fort on August 15 since India became free.
He said every heart is beating with the rhythm of 'Vande Mataram' and that the Tricolour, India's flag, is flying in every home and dwelling in every mind.
After his speech, 2,500 young cadets and 'My Bharat' volunteers sang the song and formed its words with their bodies.
Then the National Anthem was sung, along with a 21-gun salute, while helicopters showered flower petals.
The prime minister also paid tribute to the freedom fighters who gave their lives for India's independence.
It was a proud day for the whole country, as 'Vande Mataram' echoed from the historic fort for the first time.
The full six stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' were rendered for the first time at the Red Fort during Saturday's Independence Day celebrations.
PM Modi called it historic, noting it was the first time since Independence the national song echoed from the Red Fort ramparts on August 15, as the event marked 150 years of 'Vande Mataram'.
After Modi's 75-minute address, 2,500 NCC cadets (Army, Navy, Air Force) and 'My Bharat' volunteers seated on Gyanpath sang 'Vande Mataram' — forming its words — followed by the National Anthem.
The ceremony featured an Army band, a 'Rashtriya Salute' to the national flag, a 21-gun salute synchronised with the National Anthem, and flower petals showered by two Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force.
'Vande Mataram', written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875 and adopted as India's national song by the Constituent Assembly in 1950, is being commemorated with a year-long official celebration of its 150 years.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi; 2,500 NCC cadets (Army, Navy and Air Force) and 'My Bharat' volunteers; and attendees including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Chief Justice of India Surya Kant
- What
- First-ever rendering of the full six stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' at the Red Fort during India's Independence Day celebrations, marking 150 years of the national song
- When
- Saturday, August 15 — India's 80th Independence Day (one agency report described it as the 79th anniversary)
- Where
- Red Fort, New Delhi, India
- Why
- To mark Independence Day and commemorate 150 years of 'Vande Mataram', the national song written in 1875
- Event
- India's 80th Independence Day celebrations (one report described the occasion as the 79th anniversary)
- Historic moment
- First-ever rendering of the full six stanzas of the National Song 'Vande Mataram' at the Red Fort during Independence Day celebrations
- Prime Minister
- Narendra Modi, who delivered his 13th Independence Day address (75 minutes) from the Red Fort ramparts
- Participants
- 2,500 NCC cadets (Army, Navy, Air Force) and 'My Bharat' volunteers, seated on Gyanpath
- Ceremony highlights
- Army band rendition, 'Rashtriya Salute' to the Tricolour, 21-gun salute by the 1721 Field Battery (Ceremonial), petals from two Mi-17 helicopters, with the Indian Army as coordinating service
- Song history
- Written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875; first sung by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 Congress Session in Calcutta (Kolkata); adopted as national song by the Constituent Assembly in 1950
- Theme
- India's youth and 'Viksit Bharat @2047'; nearly 5,000 special guests were invited
- Notable absence
- Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge skipped the event for the second consecutive year
Sources
'Every Heart Is Beating With The Rhythm Of Vande Mataram': PM Modi Hails Historic First-Ever Rendition At Red Fort On 80th Independence Day | Video
Vande Mataram resonates at Red Fort as India marks 80th Independence Day
