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India celebrated the 71st Republic Day on 26th January with a grand parade on Rajpath. And it was a 90-minute display of military might, cultural diversity and socio-economic progress of the country. The chief guest of today’s parade was Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The ceremony started with PM Narendra Modi paying tribute to soldiers at the National War Memorial.

Republic Day 2020 highlights

• The armed forces of the nation and their armaments were at the centre-stage of the grand parade.

• A total of 16 marching contingents including National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme took part in the parade.

• For the second consecutive year, a woman officer Captain Tania Sher Gill of the Corps of Signals led an all-male contingent.

• The 61st Cavalry, the only active horse cavalry regiment in the world also took part in the parade. Raised in 1953, the cavalry was in the uniform of the erstwhile Gwalior Lancers.

• The Air Force contingent had 144 air warriors with a tableau showcasing scaled-down models of newly-acquired fighter jet Rafael and indigenous Tejas aircraft and the Light Combat Helicopter and Akash and Astra missile systems.

• The naval contingent was comprised of 144 young sailors and equipment like the Boeing P81 Long Range Maritime Petrol aircraft, the Kolkata Class Destroyer and the Kalvari Class submarine.

• DRDO marching contingent displayed the unique anti-satellite weapon Mission Shakti that can bring down hostile satellites.

• 21 women bikers of CRPF on five bikes performed daredevil stunts in the parade.

• There was a total of 22 tableaux from 16 states, union territories and ministries and departments were in the parade.

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National

Republic Day 2020: Indian Republic Turns 71st Today

HT News जनवरी 26, 2020

The entire country celebrated the 71st Republic Day on 26th January. The whole world witnessed the military might of India in the grand Republic Day parade on the Rajpath. The parade reflects unity and integrity in the cultural diversity of the country.

Republic Day celebrations

The Republic Day is celebrated to commemorate the establishment of the Republic of India on 26th January 1950. Also, it is a tribute to the freedom fighters that laid their lives fighting the British colonialism and to make India free country. The country remembers those freedom fighters and displays its social, economic and military might to the world through Republic Day parade.

Source: https://bit.ly/2vo3O7I

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National

Beating Retreat Excluding Vande Mataram

HT News जनवरी 26, 2020

The military will continue with the tradition of playing “Abide with me” tune on grand Beating Retreat ceremony on 29 January to mark the conclusion of the Republic Day celebrations.

Beating Retreat ceremony

It is a musical ending of Republic Day celebrations by the three bands of the armed forces – army, navy and air force. Every year, the army bands play “Abide with me” at Vijay Chowk on 29 January since 1950 and it would follow the tradition this year too.

Earlier there were rumours of the army bands replacing “Abide with me” with VandeMatram but there is no official notification from the army. Also, it became clear on the rehearsal on Friday that the army bands would continue with the tradition of playing “Abide with me” tune.

Abide with me

Written in the early 19th century by Henry Francis Lyle and composed in 1861 by William Henry Monk, it was Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite Christian hymn. Also, it was a favourite of King George V of England. Also, the hymn was played at the annual Anzac Day services in Australia and New Zealand and at the associated military remembrance day celebrations in Canada and the UK. But it was first sung at Lyle’s own funeral.

Vande Mataram

It is a Sanskrit poem written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1870 but it acquired political incendiary Hindutva overtones overtime.The Modi government wanted VandeMataram to be included in Beating Retreat ceremony but the request was turned down by the army.

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National

National Voters’ Day 2020: Five Important Things Voters Must Know

HT News जनवरी 25, 2020

Every year, National Voters’ Day is celebrated on January 25 with the objective of educating the youth to vote. Strength of a democracy is its voters and the country where voters are aware about their rights, that country develops as much.

National Voters’ Day started on January 25, 2011

It was decided celebrate National Voters’ Day to educate the voters about their rights and to encourage the youth to come forward for voting. The first time the National Voter’s Day was celebrated in January 25.

Special camps are organized

Every year on the first January and before the National Voters’ Day, the Election Commission of India organizes special camps to settle issues related to voters.

Systematic VotersEducation

The Election Commission started Systematic Voters Education to inform the voters about their rights and increase their participation in elections. In 2009, the commission launched a special program to increase electoral participation.

Campaign to aware new voters

The Election Commission makes new voters aware through campaigns and programs for voters especially youth so that they increase their participation in elections.

New voter card

The EC gives voter cards to new voters every year on 25th January. According to the commission, millions of voters are added to the voter list every year.

States with lesser votes

Election Commission has prepared a list of states where lesser voters vote. EC has big plans to educated voters of states like Haryana and Rajasthan with the help of nukkadnatak, rangoli and rally.

Source: https://bit.ly/2RoCxdU

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National

The President Of India Shri Ramnath Kovind Would Tweet With A Tricolor India Gate Emoji

HT News जनवरी 25, 2020

Twitter launched a new emoji to mark the momentous occasion of the 71st Republic Day of India. The micro-blogging site has made a Tricolor India Gate as the nation gears up for Republic Day celebrations.

Tricolor India Gate emoji

The especially designed emoji shows the India Gate lit up in tricolor as if it is paying homage to the grand Republic Day parade on Rajpath. Twitter said that the emoji would be live until January 30, 2020 and it would be available in English and ten Indian languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Urdu and Gurmukhi.

Twitter’s Republic Day celebrations

This is fifth-time that Twitter is celebrating the Republic Day with an emoji. Earlier, it had supported other important days and festivals like Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti and Diwali. Also, it came out in support of social issues and big events from time to time.

Twitter India’s Mahima Kaul, Director, Public Policy, India and South Asia, said that they believed that the 2020 Republic Day emoji would resonate with Indians across languages, cultures and time zones providing them yet another reason, and way to celebrate and participate in public conversation.

The President of India would use the emoji

Twitter said that the office of the Honorable President of India Shri Ramnath Kovind would use the emoji while tweeting his address to the nation on January 25.

Source: https://bit.ly/2Rr77Uk

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National Today's Special

Indian Army Day 2020: History And Significance Of Commemorating The Brave Soldiers Of Indian Army

HT News जनवरी 15, 2020

Every year January 15 is celebrated as Indian Army Day. On this day, the entire nation commemorates the soldiers that are standing tall in every condition to protect the country from foreign aggression and armed rebellion.

India Army Day

15th January is the Army Day because on this day in 1949 the then Lieutenant General KM Cariappa took over General Sir Francis Butcher as Commander-in-Chief of India. This year the nation will celebrate the 72nd Army Day.

Indian Army Day significance

All Command Headquarters come together to celebrate the Indian Army Day where the nation honors the soldiers that set examples of selfless service and brotherhood before the citizens. It is because of these brave soldiers that the Indian Army is considered one of the most powerful armies competing with superpowers like the United States, Russia, and China.

Indian Army Day 2020: Motto

Service before self is the motto of the Indian Army and the mission is to ensure national security and national unity. The mission statement further reads that the army would defend the nation from external aggression and armed rebellion. Also, it will maintain peace and security in the country.

Today, the entire nation salutes to the brave soldiers that are ready to lay their lives for the country. In 1965, the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri gave the slogan of “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”.

If you want, you can send inspirational quotes to commemorate Indian Army Day 2020. Sending quotes, images and videos about the Indian Army is a way to celebrate Indian Army Day.

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Devotional

Makar Sankranti: History, Significance And Auspicious Time For Holy Bath And Puja

HT News जनवरी 14, 2020

Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on Wednesday 15th January 2020. Fact that this festival is celebrated with much zeal in Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar, Bengal and Orissa and almost of all north India underlines its significance.

Makar Sankranti celebrations

Usually celebrated on 14th or 15th January, Makar Sankranti brings joy and happiness. On this day, people wear new clothes and fly kites. This year, Kumbh 2020 will start in Prayagraj on Makar Sankranti. Millions of people are expected to congregate at the banks of Ganga to take a holy dip on this auspicious day. Also, this day brings relief from the cold season that starts changing with the festival. It is the onset of Basant Ritu or Spring.

Significance of Makar Sankranti

It is believed that Bhagirathi brought Ganga to the ashram of Kapil Muni on this day. It is for this reason that Kumbha begins on Makar Sankranti.

Makar Sankranti date, time and muhurat

Date: 15th January 2020

Time: 07:19 AM

Punyakal: 07:19 AM to 12.31 PM

Maha-Punyakal: 07:19 AM to 09:30 AM

Holy dip time: Early morning on 15th January

Makar Sankranti Puja Vidhi

There is provision for keeping fast on this auspicious day. People take bath in the water mixed with til. Also, they can pour Gangajal in the water. The puja starts after the snaan or holy bath. This day is also considered auspicious for offering tarpan to ancestors and pitas.

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Devotional Today's Special

Happy Lohri 2020: Send Special Messages To Loved Ones

HT News जनवरी 13, 2020

Every year, 13 January is celebrated as Lohri but preparations for the celebrations start early. For example, people get their homes ready to invite guests and prepare delicious items for serving guests.Even markets are decorated for Lohri festival. Shopkeepers of Delhi NCR especially in Old Delhi markets are happy to see buyers in the market. Sikh community is more enthusiastic about Lohri than others.

Best wishes for Lohri

The best way to make Lohrimemorable for self and others is to enjoy it in the traditional manner. Also, you can send beautiful messages to family and friends on this occasion.

Source: https://bit.ly/2QPGWpZ

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Spiritual

Chandra Grahan 2020: The First Lunar Eclipse On January 10 Would Be A Fractured Eclipse

HT News जनवरी 9, 2020

The first lunar eclipse of 2020 will be on 10th January. It would be a sub-shadow eclipse with a short duration of 4 hours. Lunar eclipse is divided into three broad categories – partial, full and fragmentary or sub-shadow. The sub-shadow lunar eclipse is weaker in comparison to the other two.

Full lunar eclipse: The earth comes between the sun and the moon and blocks the light going to the moon. In other words, it covers the moon with its shadow.

Partial lunar eclipse: Shadow of the earth covers some parts of the moon. The sunlight doesn’t reach the covered parts.

Sub-shadow lunar eclipse: The moon gets covered under its own shadow and for this reason, this lunar eclipse remains weaker in comparison to others.

Lunar eclipse timing in India

The eclipse would start at 10:36 pm on January 10 and reach its midway at 12:40 am and will complete on 2:44 am. The total length of this astronomical event will be a little over 4 hours.

Lunar eclipse in 2020

The first lunar eclipse of 2020 would be on January 10; the second lunar eclipse would happen from June 5 to June 6 and the third lunar eclipse will fall between July 5 to July 6. The fourth and the last lunar eclipse of 2020 will be on 30 November.

None of the 2020 lunar eclipse would be full or partial. And Sutakisn’t applied to fractured eclipse because here the moon isn’t covered with the earth’s shadow.

Source: https://bit.ly/39RsAwE

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National News & Politics

Violence Reported From Bengal And Chennai Amid Nationwide Strike By CITU

HT News जनवरी 8, 2020

The 24-hour nationwide strike resulted in disruption of rail and road traffic in several states including Bengal, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. It was claimed that approximately 25 crore workers from ten trade unions would make the Bharat Bandh on January 8 successful.

Bengal Bandh

Several Left supporters held a “Rail Roko Protest” in the North 24 Parganas district to support the strike. The railway police also found crude oil bombs on the tracks. Violence was also reported from Jadavpur and Behala. The Left also accused the Mamata government of double-speaking on strike. Chief Mamata Banerjee said that it won’t support the strike.

Rahul Gandhi supported the strike

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi supported the striking workers with his tweet. He said that he saluted the 25 crore workers that were standing united against and oppressive economic policies of the central government.

Maharashtra Bandh

The Udbhav Thackeray Maharashtra government supported the strike. Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana wrote an editorial saying that six months had been passed since the formation of the central government but nothing was done to improve the labor condition in India.

Chennai Bandh

The ruling AIADMK was against the strike hence it detained the protestors trying to disrupt the road traffic. Also, the government denied leaves to employees that were supporting the strike. But factories in Coimbatore and Tirupur were hit by protest.

Trade union leaders put a 12-point charter before the government and asked to accept the charter in order to bring normalcy in the manufacturing sector that has been witnessing slow down.

Source: https://bit.ly/2QBKLi8

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