New Delhi: Union Ministry of Defence has said that school children from four Delhi schools and Folk artists from East Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata will take part in the cultural program during the Republic Day Parade to be held at Rajpath on January 26, 2021.
Ministry of Defence and Directorate of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi have selected 401 students and artists- 271 girls and 131 boys- from DTEA Senior Secondary Schools, Delhi; Mount Abu Public School, Rohini, Delhi; Vidya Bharti School, Rohini, Delhi; Government Girls Senior Secondary School, B-2, Yamuna Vihar, Delhi, and Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata.
Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Vision for a Self Reliant India is the theme of Mount Abu Public School, Delhi and Vidya Bharti School, Delhi in which 38 boys and 54 girls will participate.
102 students of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Delhi will present a program on the theme “ Hum Fit toh India Fit” inspired by the Fit India Movement launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on National Sports Day on 29th August 2019, informed the ministry.
127 children from DTEA Senior Secondary Schools, Delhi will showcase folk dances of Tamil Nadu in their traditional attires. 80 folk artists of Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata will present the folk dance Bajasal from Kalahandi, Odisha.
During a press preview held on 13 January 2021, the young participants expressed their happiness to be part of the Republic Day Parade. They said they were overwhelmed with a sense of pride as they have got a chance to showcase their talent before important dignitaries on Rajpath.
The number of participating children and folk artists has been cut down to 400 this year, compared to more than 600 last year, given the COVID-19 restrictions.