Punjab’s Tableau to Grace Republic Day Parade at Delhi’s Kartavya Path. Punjab’s tableau will be a highlight of this year’s Republic Day parade on January 26 at Kartavya Path, Delhi. Dedicated to Baba Sheikh Farid, the tableau showcases various aspects of Punjab, including its agricultural prominence and the traditional Phulkari embroidery. It has been meticulously prepared over 21 days.
During the parade rehearsals, the tableau became one of the most admired things, with all credit to its creative representation. The team involved in its creation seemed thrilled, and even Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu came over to see it. Sharing some photographs and details on his X social media account, Bittu appreciated the tableau: “My heart beats for Punjab. The tableau is mesmerizing. I just couldn’t resist capturing its images.
Key Features of the Tableau
The tableau is divided into four sections:
- Agricultural Identity: The front section depicts Punjab as an agrarian state, with a picture of oxen ploughing fields, which symbolizes the state’s contribution to making India self-reliant in food production.
- Folk Music Heritage: This part of the film showcases the folk music that Punjab is world-famous for, with the artists dressed in traditional attire and playing ancient instruments.
- Phulkari and Cultural Legacy: This part of the film shows a young girl sitting outside her house, working on Phulkari embroidery, showing the rich cultural heritage of Punjab.
- Tribute to Baba Sheikh Farid: The fourth section pays homage to Baba Sheikh Farid, the first poet of Punjab who did a great job in enriching Punjabi literature. Also, this section includes women working on traditional rugs and scenes of Phulkari work.
In 2023, the central government rejected Punjab’s tableau for the Republic Day parade and instead showcased it at Bharat Parv in Delhi. At that time, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann refused to term Punjab’s tableau as “rejected” and ensured it was prominently displayed in both Punjab and Delhi to highlight the state’s rich heritage.
He said that all Punjabis must pay their tributes to the martyrs of Punjab, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Lala Lajpat Rai, Udham Singh, Mai Bhago, Kartar Singh Sarabha, and so many others who had made extreme sacrifices for their motherland.
Bringing Punjab Heritage to Villages
Following the last year’s rejection, the Punjab government started an exercise to take all the tableaux of the state across every village and neighborhood in the state. These decorated tableaux on trolleys visited all constituencies, and thus, people from every corner of Punjab could see their cultural heritage as if they were seeing the Republic Day parade.