Bharat Parv begins on virtual platform showcasing glory of nation

The Embassy of India in Beijing celebrated the 72nd Republic Day with zeal and enthusiasm with due diligence to COVID-19 protocols. The celebrations were also held at consulates in Guangzhou and Shanghai. Ambassador Vikram Misri unfurled the National Flag which was followed by singing of the National Anthem. Misri read President of India’s address to the nation on the occasion.Members from Indian community could not participate due to COVID-19 pandemic related situation in Beijing and its adjoining provinces, Hebei and Heilongjiang. Indian missions in South Korea and Japan also celebrated Republic Day following COVID-19 protocols by local governments. Indian community members joined the event online.The Diaspora community of Bangladesh also celebrated the Republic Day with enthusiasm in Dhaka. The High Commission of India in Dhaka organised the Republic Day programme inviting Indians in Dhaka to participate in the event.

-In Odisha, about 25 thousand healthcare workers were given COVID-19 vaccine in 303 session sites across the state. With this, Odisha has emerged as one of the top three states in terms of vaccination coverage. While the state has targeted to inoculate more than one lakh ninety two thousand healthcare workers in the first phase, it has already achieved more than 100% vaccination target as revealed through an official release. The state is all set to roll out the second spell of the first phase from the 28th of this month till the10th of February next, when the vaccinated healthcare workers would be administered with the second shots of the vaccines. A total of about three lakh fifty thousand healthcare workers of the state are queued up for covid-19immunization in the initial phases of the nationwide vaccination drive.

-The command of Indian Army’s Frontier Gajraj Corps  changed hands from Lieutenant General Shantanu Dayal, to Lieutenant General Ravin Khosla. Lieutenant General Gen Ravin Khosla brings with him immense operational experience and has served in important command and staff appointment both in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East. He comes to Gajraj Corps from Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Army), New Delhi where he was holding the appointment of Director General (Manpower Planing & Personnel Services). The General Officer has served in Sri Lanka during Operation PAWAN. For his illustrative service, he has been awarded the Ati Vishist Sewa Medal, Sena Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal. In addition to his professional pursuits, the general officer is also a keen sportsperson and an avid reader.

-Bharat Parv 2021, a festival to celebrate the spirit of India has begun on Tuesday. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the Bharat Parv-2021 in the presence of Culture and Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel. Speaking on the occasion, Birla said, the Bharat Parv offers a unique glimpse of India's cultural diversity. He said, this event will provide an opportunity to know and understand the art, culture, food, clothing and traditions of the 28 states and eight Union territories of the country. The festival is being organised on a virtual platform till January 31. The glimpses of Republic Day Parade and recorded performances of Armed forces music bands will also be available on this virtual platform. Various Central Ministries and other organizations including Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Ayush, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Railways, Archaeological Survey of India, National Museum, National Gallery of Modern Arts, Khadi and Village Industries Commission and others are displaying handicrafts, handlooms, music, dance, paintings, literary material and other features from all over the country.

- Union Territory of Ladakh on Tuesday made its debut in the Republic Day parade on the Rajpath with a beautiful tableau depicting the iconic Thikse Monastery and its cultural heritage. There was a palpable excitement among members of the Ladakh contingent, who received applause from many audience when their float rolled down the ceremonial boulevard. The Union Territory of Ladakh was created in 2019 after the central government bifurcated the state of Jammu and Kashmir came into UTs."The Ladakh tableau highlights the vision for Ladakh to be carbon-neutral, and exemplary for the world. It also showcases the Indian Astronomical Observatory, located in Hanle near Leh, one of the world's highest sites for optical, infrared an gamma-ray telescopes," according to the tableaux details shared by the officials.