Google is celebrating India’s Republic Day 2018 with a colourful doodle. Showcasing the vibrant culture, traditions, art forms and beliefs, it depicts the diversity of India and how it preserves its ethnicity.
Republic Day honours January 26, the day on which the Constitution of India came into effect.
The main celebration of Republic Day involves a parade in the national capital which starts from the iconic India Gate and carries on along the Rajpath.
The parade includes marching contingents, various tableaux and performances showcasing the different cultures of the country.
This year's parade will feature tableaux from 14 states and union territories, and nine central ministries.
The doodle features geometrical shapes in the background and are inspired by the vibrant colors and patterns of traditional hand-loom draperies from different states. The foreground elements symbolize unique crafts, music and traditional practices from across the country. You can see a man blowing the Sringa, an ancient musical instrument; Kathputli, a form of traditional puppetry used to narrate folk tales; and the spinning wheel, an important symbol of India’s history. Ceremonial dances form an important part of rituals during the many festivals celebrated across India, and today’s Doodle depicts the Bihu dance from Assam. You can also spot the majestic elephant, a key figure in such festive ceremonies in most regions. Finally, the overall outline and motifs are a tribute to Mughal architecture.
India adopted the constitution on November 26, 1949, which came into force on January 26, 1950, marking the country's first Republic Day.
This year, in a first, the parade will see 10 chief guests - the leaders of all member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. In another first, the ASEAN flag will also be flown during the parade.
Apart from the tableaux from various states and union territories, a major attraction of the parade is the armed forces contingents. The marching contingents aside, several aircraft, military vehicles, and weapons are displayed during the parade. The aircraft also perform a flypast, involving different formations.
