This year's Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort will feature a first-of-its-kind addition, with Vande Mataram set to be played during the flag-hoisting ceremony. Invitation cards issued by the Ministry of Defence also carry the complete lyrics of the national song, officials familiar with the development said.
According to officials cited by Hindustan Times, the song will be played before the national anthem during the 80th Independence Day celebrations.
The invitation cards, distributed to ministers, senior military officers, diplomats, bureaucrats, students and distinguished guests, include all six stanzas of Vande Mataram.
Move follows recent legal changes
The development comes days after Parliament passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, granting the national song the same legal status as the national anthem.
Under the amended law, insulting or obstructing the national song has become a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, along with a fine.
The move also follows the Centre's decision earlier this year to make the rendition of all six stanzas of Vande Mataram mandatory, replacing the long-standing practice of singing only the first two stanzas that had been adopted in 1950.
Explaining why the complete lyrics have been printed on the invitation cards, an official said, "People know the national anthem by heart, but few can sing the national song. The lyrics have been provided so that people can sing along."
Invitation cards highlight national symbols
Apart from the lyrics, the invitation cards also feature an image of Seva Teerth, which houses the Prime Minister's Office, the National Security Council Secretariat and the Cabinet Secretariat. They also include a list of citizens' fundamental duties.
Last year's invitation cards had carried the watermark of the Chenab Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir.
Celebrating 150 years of Vande Mataram
The inclusion of Vande Mataram comes during the 150th year of the national song.
The Indian Army has also organised military band performances at 18 locations across the country to mark the milestone. One of the performances was held in Naihati, West Bengal, the birthplace of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who composed Vande Mataram in the 1870s.
The song has featured prominently in recent national celebrations, including the 77th Republic Day, where the event's theme marked 150 years of Vande Mataram.