Prime Minister Narendra Modi began the nation’s 79th Independence Day celebrations on Friday by paying floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, reaffirming the ideals of peace and unity as the country pursues its vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047 under the theme ‘Naya Bharat’.
From Rajghat, PM Modi proceeded to the Red Fort, where he was received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, MoS Defence Sanjay Seth, and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. He was introduced to Lt. Gen. Bhavnish Kumar, GOC, Delhi Area, before hoisting the tricolour for the 12th consecutive year and delivering his customary Independence Day address.
This year’s celebrations feature a tribute to the success of Operation Sindoor, with its logo displayed at Gyanpath alongside themed floral arrangements. Flying Officer Rashika Sharma assisted in hoisting the flag, followed by a petal shower from two Mi-17 IAF helicopters—one bearing the national flag and the other the Operation Sindoor flag—piloted by Wing Commanders Vinay Poonia and Aditya Jaiswal.
The event gathered around 5,000 special guests from diverse fields, including the Indian contingent for the Special Olympics 2025, international sports champions, Khelo India Para Games gold medallists, and top-performing farmers supported under national schemes. Notably, award-winning sarpanches, entrepreneurs, authors, youth achievers, and beneficiaries from various government initiatives such as PM-VIKAS, PM Van Dhan Yojana, PM Awaas Yojana (Gramin), and the National SC/ST Hub were also present.
On Gyanpath, 2,500 NCC cadets and My Bharat volunteers formed the ‘Naya Bharat’ logo. After the PM’s address, they joined in singing the National Anthem, marking a symbolic display of unity and national pride.
For the first time, Independence Day evening will see over 140 nationwide patriotic band performances by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, NCC, and paramilitary forces, celebrating Operation Sindoor’s victory and fostering patriotic fervour.
Meanwhile, the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign returned in 2025 with renewed enthusiasm, as Tiranga Yatras were held across the country. The initiative, building on past successes, has infused fresh creativity and community participation, encouraging citizens to connect with the national flag in meaningful ways.
