Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 27 Jan: The main Republic Day celebration function in Uttarakhand was held at the Parade Ground here on Monday with full ceremonial splendour. Here Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd) unfurled the National Flag and took the salute at the grand parade. On the occasion, the Governor, and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, also presented medals to police officers for outstanding performance and honoured officials from various departments for their commendable services.
A special highlight of the celebrations was the tableau presented by the Information Department on the theme “Uttarakhand Silver Jubilee and Winter Religious Circuit and Tourism”. Colourful and informative tableaux reflecting key programmes, schemes and policies were also showcased by the Departments of Women Empowerment and Child Development, Rural Development, Tourism, Horticulture, School Education, Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA), Forest, Industries and Sanskrit Education. In the tableau competition, the Information Department secured first position, followed by the Sanskrit Education Department which stood in second place and the School Education Department in third. The winners were felicitated by the Governor and the Chief Minister.
The ceremonial parade featured contingents from the 14th Dogra Regiment of the Army, CRPF, ITBP, Himachal Police, 40th Battalion PAC, 40th Battalion Women’s Contingent, Uttarakhand Home Guards, Prantiya Rakshak Dal (PRD), NCC Boys, NCC Girls, Horse Cavalry, Police Communications, Fire Services and CPU. Among the marching contingents, CRPF was adjudged first, ITBP second and the 14th Dogra Regiment third. All were honoured by the Governor and the CM.
Folk artists from across the state enthralled the audience with vibrant cultural performances that reflected Uttarakhand’s rich heritage. The Chholiya dance, Garhwali dance and pipe band displays were particularly appreciated by those present. On the occasion, the Chief Minister also honoured Democracy Warriors (Loktantra Senanis), kin of the martyred statehood activists and statehood agitationists by presenting them with shawls.
Among those present on the occasion were former Governor of Maharashtra and former CM of Uttarakhand Bhagat Singh Koshyari, former CM Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Geeta Dhami, Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal, MPs Naresh Bansal and Mahendra Bhatt, MLA Khajan Das, Dehradun Mayor Saurabh Thapliyal, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Director General of Police (DGP) Deepam Seth, Secretary to the Governor Ravinath Raman, Dehradun District Magistrate Savin Bansal, SSP Ajai Singh, besides senior police and administrative officers, public representatives and a large number of citizens.
Earlier in the day, on Monday, the Governor also unfurled the National Flag at the Lok Bhawan and extended Republic Day greetings and best wishes to the people of the state. Addressing the media on this occasion, he also paid tributes to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and all the architects of the Constitution for laying a strong democratic foundation and also remembered the freedom fighters, brave martyrs and armed forces personnel guarding the nation’s borders and coasts. Singh asserted that Republic Day is an occasion to reaffirm commitment to the Constitution and democratic values, and called for active public participation in realising the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, Atmanirbhar Bharat and Vishwa Guru Bharat under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Emphasising the constructive use of artificial intelligence (AI) and modern technology for nation-building, the governor also lauded the role of the state’s women power and youth in innovation, startups and entrepreneurship. He also appealed to citizens to work with unity and integrity in the spirit of Nation First.
On the occasion, Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Uttarakhand, Dr Neeraj Singhal, Assistant Chief Electoral Officer, Uttarakhand, Mastu Das, Section Officer, Uttarakhand Secretariat, Arun Kumar Singh, and Review Officer, Uttarakhand Secretariat, Rakesh Singh Aswal were honoured for excellent service. The Governor’s Excellent Service Medal for 2026 was awarded to Inspector Civil Police STF Dehradun Yashpal Singh, Sub-Inspector Civil Police STF Dehradun Narottam Bisht, Constable 21 Civil Police STF Dehradun Devendra Kumar, Head Constable STF Kumaon Bhupendra Singh Martolia, Additional Sub-Inspector Armed Police Pauri Garhwal Sunil Kumar and Head Constable 114 Civil Police District Dehradun Sunil Rawat.
