UP’s tableau ‘Subah-e-Banaras’ not included in Delhi’s R-Day parade

A UP government tableau themed ‘Subah-e-Banaras’ has not been included in New Delhi’s Republic Day parade this year. Instead, it will now be a part of the parade in Lucknow.

A UP government tableau themed ‘Subah-e-Banaras’ has not been included in New Delhi’s Republic Day parade this year. Instead, it will now be a part of the parade in Lucknow.

The defence ministry, which approves tableaux of different states, has neither given approval to UP’s tableau nor cited any reason for its omission. (HT)

The defence ministry, which approves tableaux of different states, has neither given approval to UP’s tableau nor cited any reason for its omission.

Avnish Awasthi, principal secretary, information confirmed that the UP government’s tableau was not included in Delhi’s Republic Day parade. “They have a policy wherein every year they give a chance to different states. They allow limited number of tableaux. They have limited slots and adopt a rotation policy,” he explained.

He said this is probably the second consecutive year when there will be no tableau from UP in Delhi’s R-Day parade. Given the fact that BJP government is there both at the centre and in the state, it is difficult to understand as why UP failed to push its case, said another official.

It depicted a complete scene of the Ganga ghats – temples resonating with the sound of bells and conchshells (shankh), people taking the holy dip and men engaged in wrestling. There was also a model of Bismillah Khan along with his assistant artistes depicting the scene of Banarsi morning.

Perhaps, this could be one of the reasons why UP’s tableau failed to make a place in Delhi this year.

In 2013, UP’s tableau themed ‘Braj ki Holi’ became a part of the parade in Delhi after a gap of nearly seven years. Before that, UP’s tableau based on ‘Rani of Jhansi’ was selected some eight years ago.