Final Rehearsal on Red Road Before Independence Day, Signs of Change on the Stage
**Kolkata:** The final rehearsal was completed on Red Road in Kolkata ahead of Independence Day. The Kolkata Police Commissioner and senior officials from the administration were present at the rehearsal. This rehearsal was organized to review the preparations for the main event on August 15.
This year’s Independence Day celebrations will feature several new additions. The organizers have announced that for the first time, the song **‘Vande Mataram’** will be performed at the event. This performance is planned to take place after Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari arrives on the podium. Following this, the national flag will be hoisted and the national anthem will be sung as per tradition.
Special arrangements have been made to commemorate the **150th anniversary of the composition of ‘Vande Mataram’**. There are plans to highlight this historic occasion at the Independence Day event on Red Road in Kolkata, modeled after Delhi's Red Fort.
One of the major attractions of the event will be the tableaux of various government schemes. A total of about **12 tableaux** are expected to participate. Initiatives such as the Annapurna Yojana, VGB Ramji Project, housing schemes, and free bus services for women will be showcased there.
Additionally, there are plans to highlight various important personalities and topics from Bengal's history and socio-political landscape in the tableaux. From Shyama Prasad Mukherjee to various central projects, multiple subjects are expected to find a place in this year’s tableaux.
Another major attraction at the Independence Day event could be **flower shower from a helicopter**. The rehearsal has reviewed the security of the event site, the stage, the path of the tableaux, and other arrangements.
Overall, the event on Red Road on August 15 is set to present several new surprises. The administration claims that this year’s event has been organized keeping in mind national heritage, the history of the freedom struggle, and various government initiatives.
