Blog Details

•  Author : Sanskriti Goyal
• Date : May 16, 2025

Kaziranga National Park

Republic Day parades in India reflect this country's cultural diversity, showing the different traditions of its states and union territories. This year, Assam did not participate in the parade for the second consecutive year. The reason for this is the policy of ensuring that every state has an equal opportunity to be included in the parade. While Assam was not part of the parade that comprised the main event in the morning, it shall still take part in other events and celebrations that are scheduled later in the day. This will ensure that all the states are represented throughout the day. The Red Fort exhibition made a presentation to showcase the richness of Assamese culture along with its significant development. Such a presentation also made sure to present Assamese heritage including the one-horned rhinoceros of Kaziranga National Park.

Assam Tableau: A Celebration Of Heritage And Development

The theme of the tableaux in this year's Republic Day parade is "Golden India: Heritage and Growth," which highlights India's rich history and progress. This theme presented a mix of Assam's cultural heritage and its progress. The tableau was designed to reflect the state's identity through both its rich history and its development. It displayed important features that represented Assam’s ancient culture, as well as symbols of its growth and future plans. The design of the tableau was meant to show how Assam is moving forward and developing while also honoring and preserving its traditions.

The One-Horned Rhinoceros

Among the display items, a well-known one-horned rhinoceros of Kaziranga National Park stood in the middle. You can make a Kaziranga booking for a safari to see this animal in this national park. Kaziranga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has strongly contributed to the local protection of wildlife. In addition, it forms the world's largest home for wild animals and plants, making it one of the grandest successes of wildlife conservation in Assam. The presence of this rhino in the show will remind people why they should protect nature. Its existence also expresses the strong efforts that Assam had to make to conserve this wild animal. The presence of this animal will symbolize the efforts to ensure the saving of endangered species and preserving the original flora and fauna of this state.

Xorai: A Symbol Of Honor

The Xorai, a very important traditional tray in Assamese culture, is also on display. This tray is delicately made, symbolizing respect, gratitude, and hospitality. It is put to use during many ceremonies and celebrations to honor the guests and the special occasions of the day. The design is unique and has been the manifestation of the skilled craftsmanship of Assamese people. The Xorai is more than just a showpiece as it is a symbol of the respect and dignity that the Assam people feel for their customs. It has, therefore, played an important role in the cultural identity of this state.

Charaideo Moidam

This tableau also included Charaideo Moidam which is the group of sacred burial mounds of the Ahom dynasty in Assam. They are the most important relics of Assam and reflect the advanced building skills and cultural depth of this region. Charaideo Moidam is a landmark historical site that UNESCO has recognized as culturally significant. Such an achievement points toward Assam's long and rich history and shows how important heritage preservation is in this region. Besides depicting the architectural skills of the Ahom kingdom, these mounds can remind you of the great Assamese contribution to Indian and worldwide history.

Sattriya Dance And Bihu Festival

This tableau also showcases Sattriya, a dance that is purely of Assamese origin and with immense religious significance, and Bihu Festival, which is another big event that happens in the culture of Assamese society that brings the people closer and helps them stay close to their land. The classical dance, Sattriya, revolves more around religious ceremonies and represents various stories as told through body language. The Bihu Festival is a happy celebration that marks the Assamese New Year and the beginning of the farming season. During this period, people get together and celebrate, dance, and bond themselves in their sense of community. Both of these practices are culturally valued in Assam for unity and spirituality.

The Rotation Policy: Ensuring Equal Representation

There is a system of rotation in the tableau of Republic Day where each state and union territory gets a chance to show its culture and development on a pan-Indian stage. Therefore, it also promotes fairness and democracy by giving a space for participation by every single region. However, Assam had not been included for the last two successive years in the parade, which has upset many as this land has a substantial cultural history. While this exclusion is temporary, Assam might participate in the parade again in 2026 or 2027. Rotation allows each state to take turns showcasing its unique culture, helping to celebrate India's diversity in many ways, not just through the parade, but by highlighting different traditions and identities.

Alternative Showcasing At The Red Fort Exhibition

The Red Fort exhibition would be an important exhibition for those states that will not be marching in the Republic Day parade. The Red Fort exhibition from January 26 to January 31 will give states like Assam a chance to showcase their culture to interested tourists. Although Assam was not part of the official Republic Day parade, it could still be part of the celebrations through this exhibition. It will give Assam the opportunity to connect with a focused audience, making it easier for people to understand and appreciate the details of the state's cultural display. This participation will help ensure that Assam's cultural heritage will be recognized during the Republic Day events.

Balancing Heritage And Development

This year's tableau theme is "Swarnim Bharat: Virasat Aur Vikas," with the focus being Assam's progress. Development should thus be combined with conserving a local culture, and for this purpose, Kaziranga National Park has been shown here as an eco-tourism site, while Xorai-type traditional crafts are being revived. The planned message is to protect Assam's heritage while promoting its growth.