Archive · 15 Aug 2026
BJP-ruled Bengal's first Independence Day parade on Red Road
India celebrates its Independence Day on August 15 every year.
This year, a big parade will take place on Red Road, a famous street in the city of Kolkata.
It is the first Independence Day celebration under the new state government of Bengal.
The Chief Minister will arrive in the morning, and the national flag will be raised.
Soldiers and police officers will march, and a helicopter will drop flower petals from the sky.
Colourful floats called tableaux will show government programmes that help families.
One float honours Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who was born 125 years ago.
About 6,000 police officers will be on duty to keep everyone safe.
It might rain, but the programme is expected to finish before noon.
The 80th Independence Day celebrations on Red Road will be the first under a BJP-ruled Bengal, with a dozen tableaux as the star attraction.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is expected to arrive around 9:30am for a guard of honour, a rendition of Vande Mataram and the hoisting of the National Flag.
A helicopter will shower flowers on the parade, with army, navy, paramilitary and police contingents marching and foreign envoys in the galleries.
Tableaux will highlight welfare schemes including Annapurna Yojana, free bus rides for women, Ayushman Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Viksit Bharat, plus Syama Prasad Mookerjee's 125th birth anniversary.
Close to 6,000 police personnel will be deployed, Red Road will be closed from 6am to noon, rain is likely, and August 15 is a dry day.
- Who
- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, army, navy, paramilitary and police contingents, and envoys of several countries
- What
- The 80th Independence Day celebrations on Red Road, including a guard of honour, Vande Mataram, flag hoisting, a helicopter flower shower and a dozen tableaux
- When
- August 15 (Independence Day), with the Chief Minister expected at 9:30am and the programme concluding by noon
- Where
- Red Road, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Why
- To mark India's 80th Independence Day, the first such celebration under a BJP-ruled Bengal
- Event
- 80th Independence Day celebrations
- Location
- Red Road, Kolkata
- Chief Minister appearance
- Suvendu Adhikari, expected around 9:30am
- Tableaux
- A dozen, featuring welfare schemes and Bishnupur's terracotta temple heritage
- Police deployment
- Close to 6,000 personnel
- Road closures
- Red Road closed 6am to noon; Mayo Road closed from 8am
- Kolkata Metro
- 194 trains on Blue line, 148 on Green line; Orange Line shut
- Weather
- Rain likely with high humidity