Red Fort Independence Day ceremony to include Vande Mataram for the first time

Vande Mataram is set to be sung at the Red Fort’s Independence Day celebrations for the first time, adding a new musical element to Delhi’s August 15 ceremony.

Residents who want to practise before the event can use the Ministry of Culture’s interactive module on the Har Ghar Tiranga website. The “Sing Vande Mataram” feature breaks the song’s six stanzas into five stages: listening to the official rendition, a narrated pronunciation guide, line-by-line rehearsal, choir and solo practice, and a karaoke mode with lyrics displayed on screen.

The tool offers Hindi and English options and includes transliteration to help users follow the Sanskrit lyrics. Delhi University music professor Shailendra Goswami said correct pronunciation is an important part of learning the composition.

The song’s inclusion is planned as part of its 150th-year celebrations. Delhi’s wider Independence Day programme at the fort will also bring early traffic restrictions and heightened security; see what the August 15 ceremony marks and the Independence Day traffic curbs.