Happy Republic Day 2021: Significance Of Tableaux, Selection Process, What Will Be Showcased This Year

Each year, ministries have to send in a proposals and go through a gruelling selection process to finally make it through to Rajpath.

(Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP)

New Delhi: In the year, 1947, India became independent but it was still a constitutional monarchy. The Constitution of India was written and came it into effect on 26 January 1950, replacing the Government of India (1935) thus becoming a newly formed republic. To celebrate the day the Ministry of Defense organizes a parade in the national capital New Delhi, bringing forth, its unity in diversity and rich cultural heritage.

Each year, tableaux, a group of motionless figures or models represent a story or a scene from history or the culture. Usually, the states, departments, and ministries represent their achievements in the form of history or culture that are represented by their respective tableaux. These moving exhibits depict scenes of activities of people in those states and the music and songs of that particular state accompany each display. Each display brings out the diversity and richness of the culture of India and giving a festive air to the occassion.

Here are some interesting facts about tableauxs:

• There is a selection process for tableauxs, they have to be made under a set number of guidelines. The ministry recommends that tableaux represent a historical event, heritage, culture, development programmes and environment. It shouldn't contain logos but should have animation and sound.
• Under a fixed deadline, the ministries are supposed to send proposals which are examined by people in the arts field. Then it goes through two rounds of selection - sketches and designs followed by three dimensional models. 
• The expert committee consists of people from different fields of art, culture, painting, sculpture, music, architecture, choreography, etc.
• Only one tableaux from an organization is selected for the parade.
• Each year three winners are selected after the parade. Last year, it was Assam, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.

This year, though it has changed due the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, a total 32 tableauxs - 17 from states and union territories, six from the Defence ministry and nine from other Union ministries and paramilitary forces -- depicting the nation's rich cultural heritage, economic progress and defence prowess will roll down the Rajpath at the Republic Day parade, the Defence ministry said in a statement.