New Delhi: The National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ was rendered for the first time during Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort on Saturday, marking a historic moment at the venue.
Calling the occasion historic, PM Modi said that after Independence, this was the first time that ‘Vande Mataram’ had echoed from the ramparts of the Red Fort during the August 15 celebrations.
Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Today, every heart is beating with the rhythm of Vande Mataram. Aaj har ghar Tiranga hai, har mann Tiranga hai.”
#WATCH | Delhi: For the first time, the National Song Vande Mataram is rendered during Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi leads the 80th Independence Day Celebrations from the Red Fort. pic.twitter.com/miSIlH6Dki
— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026
“It is a historic day. After independence, this is the first time that ‘Vande Mataram’ has echoed from the ramparts of the Red Fort. For everyone present at this ceremony today, this is also a historic moment. For the first time since independence, ‘Vande Mataram’ is resounding at the Red Fort on August 15th,” PM Modi said.
PM Modi said that the National Song was resonating in every heart, while the Tricolour was flying in every home and dwelling in every mind.
“Today, we are all celebrating the 80th Independence Day. Today, the chant of ‘Vande Mataram’ resonates in every heart. Today, the Tricolour flies in every home and dwells in every mind; the nation is moving forward with enthusiasm and zeal, embracing new resolutions,” he said.
Written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875, Vande Mataram evolved from a literary composition into a powerful slogan of the freedom movement. First sung publicly by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 Congress session in Calcutta, it was adopted as India’s National Song by the Constituent Assembly in 1950. The historic Red Fort rendition thus brought together 150 years of the song’s literary, cultural and nationalist journey in a defining Independence Day moment.
The cadets of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and ‘My Bharat’ volunteers will sing the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ followed by the National Anthem after PM Modi’s speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
A total of 2,500 boy & girl cadets (Army, Navy and Air Force) and ‘My Bharat’ volunteers participated in the celebrations. These cadets and ‘My Bharat’ volunteers will be seated on Gyanpath, opposite the rampart. They will be forming ‘Vande Mataram ‘. (With inputs from ANI)
