1,800 special guests, selfie points: Stage set for 77th Independence Day celebrations

Independence Day red fort celebration preparations

One thousand one hundred (1,100) boy and girl NCC cadets (Army, Navy and Air Force) from different schools across the country will sing the national anthem at the conclusion of the PM's Speech. (Express Photo by Renuka Puri)

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1,800 special guests, selfie points: Stage set for 77th Independence Day celebrations

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Around 1,800 “special guests”, selfie points, 1,100 NCC cadets — the stage is set for the 77th Independence Day which will be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Red Fort in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Around 1,800 people from different walks of life have been invited from across the country to be a part of the celebrations as special guests. 17,000 e-invitation cards have been issued so far for the invitees.

Also read | Sunday Long Reads: Independence Day special brings ‘My Freedom Story’

The Red Fort has been decorated where the G-20 logo is a prominent feature this year for the floral decorations. PM Modi will unfurl the National Flag which will be followed by the 21-gun salute, the customary address at the Red Fort and conclude with the national anthem which will be sung by NCC cadets from across the country.

The ‘special guests’ have been invited as part of the government’s “Jan Bhagidari” push to encourage public participation in governance. They include over 400 Sarpanches of more than 660 villages; 250 from Farmer Producer Organisations scheme; 50 participants each of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme & Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana; 50 Shram Yogis (construction workers) of the Central Vista Project, including the New Parliament Building; 50 each Khadi workers, those involved in construction of border roads, making of Amrit Sarovar & Har Ghar Jal Yojana as well as 50 each primary school teachers, nurses and fishermen. Seventy five (75) couples from each State/Union Territory have also been invited to participate in the celebrations at Red Fort.

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View Photos here | India prepares for 77th Independence day celebrations

1,100 boy and girl NCC cadets (Army, Navy and Air Force) from different schools across the country will sing the national anthem after the PM’s Speech.

Selfie Contest

An online selfie contest will be conducted by Ministry of Defence on the MyGov portal from August 15-20 as part of the Independence Day celebrations. Selfie points dedicated to different schemes & initiatives of the government have been installed at 12 locations, including National War Memorial, India Gate, Vijay Chowk, New Delhi Railway Station, Pragati Maidan, Raj Ghat, Jama Masjid Metro Station, Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, Delhi Gate Metro Station, ITO Metro Gate, Naubat Khana and Sheesh Ganj Gurudwara.