India will be celebrating 74th Independence Day on August 15, 2020. This year, the celebrations will be a low-key affair as the country reels under the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the first time in 74 years, a curtailed Independence Day celebrations will take place at Red Fort in New Delhi. While only 20 per cent VVIPs and other participants will be able to witness the live speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the VVIPs would not be able to sit at the rampart, from where PM Modi will deliver his speech.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's Independence Day will get a digital twist in schools and educational institutions across the country. Schools have been advised to hold flag-hoisting on campus with just staff present and following social distancing norms. Meanwhile, students have been advised to join online later for programmes such as singing patriotic songs, debates and speeches.
In a first of its kind, a group of India-origin people in the US will hoist India's National Flag at the Times Square this week. This will be the first time that the Indian tricolour will be unfurled at the iconic New York city destination.
In photo: Mannequins with tricolour face masks.
In photo: Schoolchildren, armed with masks and face shield, attend a full-dress rehearsal for India's 74th Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort in New Delhi.
The All India Muslim Women's Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB) raised objection to the sale of tricolour face masks and sought an immediate ban on it by the Central and state governments.
In photo: A woman makes a tricolour ahead of the 74th Independence Day celebrations at Mahalaxmi.
Punjab police personnel take part in a rehearsal ahead of India's 74th Independence Day celebrations, in Amritsar.
Security personnel armed with face mask stands guard during the full-dress rehearsal at Red Fort in New Delhi.
Schoolchildren armed with face masks and maintaining social distancing during the full-dress rehearsal show how the 74th Independence Day will be celebrated at the Red Fort in New Delhi.
Trader Santosh Reddy displays face masks printed with India's National flag at his office in Hyderabad.
Security personnel take part in a mock drill during a full-dress rehearsal at Red Fort in New Delhi.
In photo: Mumbai iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Fort illuminated ahead of the 74th Independence Day, in Mumbai.
Ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, people were seen thronging to kite shops in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow to purchase tricolour kites. Pic/ANI Twitter
In photo: A woman selling tricolour, batches, and other decorative items at Santacruz-Chembur Link Road.
In photo: The Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Bhavan in Lucknow was illuminated ahead of the 74th Independence Day celebrations. Pic/ANI Twitter
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