President Droupadi Murmu hosted the traditional Independence Day ‘At Home’ Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday, bringing together Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan, former President Ram Nath Kovind and several other prominent guests.
The reception marked India’s 80th Independence Day and saw senior political leaders, Union Ministers, diplomats, members of the judiciary, defence officials and people from different walks of life gather at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
PM Modi, Kovind Among Guests at Independence Day Reception
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former President Ram Nath Kovind attended the Independence Day reception, along with Kovind’s wife, Savita Kovind.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also joined the gathering. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attended the event as well.
The reception began with renditions of ‘Vande Mataram’ and the National Anthem, setting a formal tone for the evening.
The guest list also reflected the wide range of people who take part in the annual event. Former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu attended alongside other senior leaders and dignitaries.
The Independence Day ‘At Home’ Reception also brought together guests from outside politics and government.
Para-cricketer Aamir Hussain Lone was among the distinguished guests at the event. His presence reflected the tradition of bringing together people who have made notable contributions in different areas.
The annual reception gives the President an opportunity to host individuals associated with public service, defence, sports, cinema, arts and other fields. The gathering therefore goes beyond a meeting of political leaders and senior officials.
Celebrations Continue at Rashtrapati Bhavan
The evening Independence Day reception also formed part of a day filled with official ceremonies and national celebrations.
Earlier in the day, President Murmu paid homage to the country’s fallen heroes at the National War Memorial. Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani, Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh also paid tribute at the memorial.
India gained independence from British colonial rule on August 15, 1947. This year marked the country’s 80th Independence Day.
The day’s celebrations also featured a significant moment at the Red Fort, where ‘Vande Mataram’ was rendered for the first time during the Independence Day programme, according to the ANI report.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort, Prime Minister Modi spoke about the significance of the National Song and said that it resonated across the country. He also referred to the Tricolour as a symbol of the spirit of Independence Day.
The celebrations at Rashtrapati Bhavan later brought together several of the country’s leading political figures, officials and distinguished guests.
The Independence Day reception thus offered a formal close to a day of national celebrations, with President Murmu welcoming guests from politics, public service, defence, sports and other fields.
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