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Republic Day is the name of a public holiday in several countries to commemorate the day when they first became republics. Some of these are former Commonwealth realms, in which the British monarch was head of state until the change of status.

January 26th in India

The Constitution of India was formally adopted by the Parliament, and India declared itself as a "Republic" on January 26 1950, a date thereafter celebrated annually as Republic Day in India. The Constitution had been prepared by the Constituent Assembly which was set up upon India gaining its independence from the British in 1947. This, in fact, was a deliberate act: the 26th of January was initially India's "Independence Day", one of Mahatma Gandhi's many symbolic acts during India's Freedom Struggle against the British colonial rule, and the adoption of the Constitution on this date was felt able to strengthen its initial meaning, one calling for Indians of all ages to declare their freedom from the British Raj. It is one of three annual national holidays in India, the other two being the nation's Independence Day on August 15 (since 1947) and the birthday of Mohandas K Gandhi or Mahatma Gandhi on October 2. And so, after the disposal of the Empire of India; King George VI was the last and only "King" of the modern India.

To mark this occasion, a grand parade is held in New Delhi, the Capital of India, beginning from Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Palace), along the Rajpath, past India Gate and on to the historic Red Fort in the old quarter of the city. Different infantry, cavalry and mechanized regiments of the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force march in formation, decked in all their finery and official decorations. The President of India, who is also the Commander in Chief of the Indian Armed Forces, takes the salute. The Chief Guest of the parade is a Head of State of another nation. The parade also includes many traditional dance troupes, to symbolize the cultural heritage of India. It traditionally ends with a colourful flypast by Air Force jets in a tiranga formation. Similar parades are held in the capitals of all the states of India, where the Governor of the respective state takes the salute.

March 23rd in Pakistan

Pakistan became an Islamic republic on March 23 1956. Republic Day, is held annually to commemorate this event.

The people of Pakistan celebrate the 23rd of March, every year, with great zeal and enthusiasm, to commemorate the most outstanding achievement of the Muslims of South Asia who passed the historic Pakistan Resolution on this day at Lahore in 1940. In the resolution, concept of separate Muslim country was publically announced, thats why it is called Pakistan Day (local name: Yaum e Pakistan).

May 31st in South Africa (1961-1994)

Between 1961 and 1994, May 31 was celebrated in South Africa as Republic Day. This practice was discontinued in 1995 following the attainment of majority rule and the reorganisation of public holidays as a consequence. On the last Republic Day, in 1994, South Africa rejoined the Commonwealth of Nations.

September 24th in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago celebrates Republic Day on the September 24. Trinidad and Tobago became a republic on August 1 1976, fourteen years after independence from the United Kingdom. Since that day was already a holiday (Discovery Day, now replaced by Emancipation Day), the holiday was placed on the birthday of the then Prime Minister, Eric Williams, although it was officially the date of the first meeting of Parliament under the republican constitution. The holiday was abolished in 1996 to make way for Spiritual Baptist/Shouter Liberation Day, but was reinstated in 2002.

October 5th in Portugal

October 5 in Portugal is known as "Implantation of the Republic" (Implantação da República). It commemorates the proclamation of the Portuguese First Republic in 1910.

October 24th in Rhodesia (1970-1979)

Although the white minority government of Ian Smith declared Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) a republic on March 2 1970, it was officially commemorated on October 24. Following independence in 1980, the holiday was abolished.

October 29th in Turkey

On October 29 1923, the Turkish constitution was amended and Turkey became a republic. This formally declared the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. The Republic Day is celebrated throughout Turkey every year. Commemorative events usually begin in the afternoon on the previous day.

November 29th in former Yugoslavia (1945-1990)

On November 29 1943 the Anti-Fascist Council of National Liberation of Yugoslavia established the foundations of post-war Yugoslavia as a socialist republic, which was officially proclaimed on the same date in 1945. Republic Day (local name: Dan Republike or Дан Републике) marked the occasion two consecutive days, November 29 and 30, and was likely the most important public holiday (the other two-day holidays were New Year and May Day).

In elementary schools first graders were inducted into the Pioneer Movement on or around Republic Day. Employees merged the holiday with weekends and extra days off to form 3-, 4- or even 5-day weekends. Urban dwellers took the occasion to visit their relatives in the country, who marked the event with pig slaughter and the ensuing feast.

In 1980s, as central and Communist Party authority eroded, dissenters targeted Republic Day celebrations for criticism. In 1987 Bosnian garage rock band Zabranjeno pušenje came out with a song entitled Dan Republike, criticizing the state of the economy and describing the general indifference to the ideals behind the holiday. The band needed to change some of the lyrics before being allowed to air the song.

In 1990 Slovenia and Croatia were the first former federal republics to cease observing the holiday. Other republics followed suit as Yugoslavia dissolved.

The date "29.XI.1943" figured prominently on the Yugoslav coat of arms.

December 13th in Malta

On December 13 1974, the constitution of Malta was substantially revised, turning the former British colony into a republic within the Commonwealth. This occasion is marked every year as Republic Day in Malta.

Republic Day in other countries

See also

Holidays | Cumhuriyet Bayramı

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Republic Day".

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