New Delhi:

The 76th Republic Day ‘At Home’ reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan highlighted the vibrant and diverse cultural heritage of Southern India.

According to a release from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, guests at the reception were welcomed by couples from the five southern states – Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala – who greeted them in the mother tongues of their respective states, dressed in traditional regional attire.

The special invitees at the Rashtrapati Bhavan reception included ‘drone didis’, women achievers, agriculturists engaged in natural farming, and divyang achievers.

The release mentioned that the event featured a brief but captivating performance by musical artists from Southern India and an exhibition of the region’s textiles. The high tea menu also celebrated South Indian cuisine, offering a variety of delicious dishes.

The musical performances featured renowned Carnatic musicians known for their mastery of various instruments. Aishwarya Manikarnike, an accomplished Veena artist, Sumanth Manjunath, a renowned Violinist, BC Manjunath, is a versatile percussionist skilled in Mridangam.

Rajkamal N, an eminent Flutist and R. Teja, with expertise in Nadaswaram and Thavil, also added to the musical charm of the event.

G Guru Prasanna, an accomplished percussionist specialising in Khanjira, brought his expertise to the stage, having performed with leading musicians in India and globally. Guru Prasanna is recognized for his exceptional contribution to the art form and has been awarded prestigious titles for his performances.

As per the release, “The ‘At Home’ was more inclusive for the divyangjan, including people to assist them.

The guests included, besides the dignitaries, women achievers, ‘Drone didis’ – rural women trained to use agricultural drones as part of a government programme – start-up founders, natural farming agriculturists, divyang achievers and eminent personalities from various professions.”

The most important centre for artisans practising the age-old craft of traditional lamp making is Nachiarkoil, a historic town in Thanjavur district, the release said.

As per the release, Nachiarkoil Kuthuvilakku is an ornamental brass lamp made of a series of diyas, a handicraft product which is exclusively made by the Kammalar community in Natchiarkoil. The central pillar that crowns at the apex is called the “Prabhai”; it is generally in the form of a hamsa or swan.

In Kerala, a similar lamp, the ‘Nilavilakku’, is commonly found in households. The door frames in Kerala are referred to as ‘Nila’ in Malayalam and ‘Nilai’ in Tamil.

The high tea spread featured an array of South Indian delicacies, including savoury dishes such as Gongura Pickle Stuffed Kuzhi Paniyaram, Andhra Mini Onion Samosa, and Udupi Uddina Vada. For dessert, guests enjoyed traditional sweets like Rawa Kesari, Parippu Pradaman, and Mysore Pak.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

“Culture in many ways is the essence of soft power,” Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said as India and France signed what he called “a project of great national importance” – a museum, the world’s largest, which will be located on Raisina Hill – just in front of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The museum, named ‘Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum’ will tell the story of India – a timeline spanning more than 5,000 years.

It will be located on Raisina Hill – the seat of the Central government. The museum will be housed in the North Block and South Block buildings, which are currently the address of the foreign ministry, home ministry, defence ministry, finance ministry, and several other ministerial offices.

The museum – a project of national heritage, prestige, and importance – will cover an area of 1.17 lakh square metres with 950 rooms spread over a basement and three storeys. In his speech after India and France signed the agreement, Mr Jaishankar said “What is being seen today is a very important expression of international cooperation, one that is built on exchanges of best practices, on sharing of experiences.”

“We are gathered here today for a project of great national importance…When the South Block and North Block become the kind of museum that is envisaged, I think we will veritably be seeing an inspiration for the remaking of Bharat.”

The Raisina Hill, which houses the two identical blocks facing each other and the Rashtrapati Bhavan next so them were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker between 1911-1931.

France, which wanted to be a part of this mega project, has a similar history with respect to its renowned museum – The Louvre – and hence has global expertise in adaptive reuse of historic buildings of archeological significance.

The Louvre (and its old wings) too were a part of a grand palatial building in France’s capital Paris and the French finance ministry used to be housed in a wing of the palatial structure which we now see as the world-famous museum and landmark.

The mapping work and blueprints have nearly been completed in the North Block and it is currently being carried out throughout the South Block, Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said.

Here is an illustration video shared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his YouTube page highlighting the salient features of the world’s largest museum to-be – the Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum:

As per a government release, the Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum aims to redefine the museum experience, offering a platform that celebrates India’s heritage while embracing contemporary narratives. An official announcement is yet to be made about the completion of the project and subsequently its grand opening.
 

New Delhi:

The Rashtrapati Bhavan through a web portal will auction selected gifts presented to the President and former presidents on different occasions, an official statement issued on Friday said.

In the first phase, around 250 exquisite gifts will be auctioned, it said.

“The aim of this initiative is not only to increase citizen engagement but also to support noble cause. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to help children in need,” the statement issued by the President’s office said.

The bidding will be open from August 5 to August 26. After the conclusion of the bidding period, the items will be delivered to the highest bidders.

“Rashtrapati Bhavan will auction selected gift items, presented to the President and former Presidents on various occasions, through an online portal called E-Upahaar,” it said.

The portal was launched by the President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday, on the completion of two years of her presidency.

Interested persons can place their bids on https://upahaar.rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in/ after filing in necessary details and Aadhaar authentication.

Through the website, the bidders can place bids for their favourite items, check their status and pay using online modes.

The gift items up for auction will be available for public viewing at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum.

Visitors can book tickets to the museum through https://visit.rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in/ and explore the exhibits from Tuesday to Sunday, between 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

In keeping with the government’s efforts to move away from the colonial past, the President’s Secretariat announced on Thursday that two important halls of Rashtrapati Bhavan, where various ceremonies are held, are being renamed to be more reflective of “Indian cultural values and ethos”.

The Durbar Hall will now be called the ‘Ganatantra Mandap’ while the new name of Ashok Hall is ‘Ashok Mandap’.

In a statement, the Secretariat said the decision was taken by President Droupadi Murmu because the Rashtrrapati Bhavan – the office and residence of the President of India – is a symbol of the nation and continuous efforts are being made to make it more accessible to people. 

The Durbar Hall is the venue of important ceremonies and celebrations, including the National Awards. 

“The term ‘Durbar’ refers to courts and assemblies of Indian rulers and the British. It lost relevance after India became a Republic, that is, ‘Ganatantra’. The concept of ‘Ganatantra’ is deeply rooted in Indian society since the ancient times, making ‘Ganatantra Mandap’ an apt name for the venue,” the statement said. 

Ashok Hall was originally a ballroom and the Secretariat said the word ‘Ashok’ connotes someone who is “free from all sufferings” or “bereft of any sorrow”, besides referring to Emperor Ashok, “a symbol of unity and peaceful co-existence”. 

“Renaming ‘Ashok Hall’ as ‘Ashok Mandap’ brings uniformity in language and removes the traces of anglicisation while upholding the key values associated with the word ‘Ashok’,” it said. 

Reacting to the move, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took a dig at the government and said in Hindi, “There is no concept of ‘durbar’ now, but the concept of ‘shahanshah’ (emperor) still exists.”

Last year, the Rashtrapati Bhavan Gardens, popularly known as the Mughal Gardens, were renamed ‘Amrit Udyan’.

New Delhi:

Venues for different ceremonial functions, Rashtrapati Bhavan’s iconic ‘Durbar Hall’ and ‘Ashok Hall’ were on Thursday renamed ‘Ganatantra Mandap’ and ‘Ashok Mandap’, respectively.

Rashtrapati Bhavan, the office and the residence of the president of India, is a symbol of the nation, and an invaluable heritage of the people.

“Continuous efforts are being made to make it more accessible to people. There has been a consistent endeavour to make the ambience of the Rashtrapati Bhavan reflective of the Indian cultural values and ethos,” a statement issued by the President’s Secretariat said.

Accordingly, President Droupadi Murmu is pleased to rename two of the important halls of Rashtrapati Bhavan — ‘Durbar Hall’ and ‘Ashok Hall’ — as ‘Ganatantra Mandap’ and ‘Ashok Mandap’, respectively, it said.

‘Durbar Hall’ is the venue of important ceremonies and celebrations such as the presentation of national awards.

“The term ‘Durbar’ refers to courts and assemblies of Indian rulers and the British. It lost relevance after India became a Republic, that is, ‘Ganatantra’. The concept of ‘Ganatantra’ is deeply rooted in Indian society since ancient times, making ‘Ganatantra Mandap’ an apt name for the venue,” the statement said.

‘Ashok Hall’ was originally a ballroom.

“The word ‘Ashok’ connotes someone who is ‘free from all sufferings’ or is ‘bereft of any sorrow’,” the statement said.

Also, ‘Ashoka’ refers to Emperor Ashok, a symbol of unity and peaceful co-existence, it said.

“The national emblem of the Republic of India is the lion capital of Ashok from Sarnath. The word also refers to the Ashok tree, which has deep significance in Indian religious traditions as well as arts and culture. Renaming ‘Ashok Hall’ as ‘Ashok Mandap’ brings uniformity in language and removes the traces of anglicisation while upholding the key values associated with the word ‘Ashok’,” it said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Smriti Singh, the widow of Captain Anshuman Singh, stood before President Droupadi Murmu with folded hands. Alongside her stood Captain Singh’s mother, their shared grief palpable. Both of them were at the Rashtrapati Bhavan to accept the Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest gallantry award, awarded posthumously to Captain Singh for his bravery during a fire incident in Siachen. 

“He would tell me, ‘I would die with the brass on my chest. I would not die an ordinary death,'” Smriti Singh recalled.

“We met on the first day of college. I don’t want to be dramatic but it was love at first sight. After a month, he got selected into the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC). We met at an engineering college but then he got selected in a medical college. Super intelligent guy. From then on, after just one month of meeting, it was a long-distance relationship for eight long years,” she added. “Then we decided to get married. Unfortunately, within two months of our marriage, he got posted in Siachen.”

Cpt #AnshumanSingh was awarded #KirtiChakra (posthumous). It was an emotional moment for his wife & Veer Nari Smt Smriti who accepted the award from #President Smt #DroupadiMurmu. Smt Smriti shares the story of her husband’s commitment & dedication towards the nation. Listen in! pic.twitter.com/SNZTwSDZ1Z

— A. Bharat Bhushan Babu (@SpokespersonMoD) July 6, 2024

Captain Singh was posted with 26 Punjab as a medical officer in the Siachen Glacier area. On July 19, 2023, a short circuit led to a fire in an Indian Army ammunition dump around 3 am. Captain Singh saw a fibreglass hut engulfed in flames and immediately acted to save those trapped inside. He successfully rescued four to five individuals, however, the fire soon spread to a nearby medical investigation room. 

Captain Singh went back into the blazing structure. Despite his efforts, he could not escape the inferno, and was trapped inside before dying.

“Unfortunately, within two months of our marriage, he got posted in Siachen,” Ms Singh recounted. “On July 18, we had a long conversation about how our life would be in the next 50 years. On July 19 morning, I got a call that he is no more,” she said. “For the next 7-8 hours we were not ready to accept that anything of such sort has happened.”

“Now that I have the Kirti Chakra in my hand, maybe it is true. But it’s okay, he’s a hero. We can manage a little of our lives. He has given all his life to save other families, his army family,” Ms Singh said. 

Captain Singh was cremated with full state honours in Bhagalpur in Uttar Pradesh’s Deoria district on July 22, 2023.