1st on R-Day: 480 dancers selected via ’Vande Bharatam’ display India's vibrancy

For the first time in the history of Republic Day celebrations, 480 dancers who displayed India's vibrancy at Rajpath during the parade earlier today were selected through a nationwide dance competition. The 36 teams of dancers from 15 states showcased Vande Bharatam — the Nritya Utsav led by the Ministry of Culture. Through their performance which was also a part of the celebrations marking 75 years of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the artists showcased 'Shastriya, Lok and Adivasi' 'dancing traditions. On November 17 last year, the Vande Bharatam competition began at the district level, with over 3,870 candidates competing in 323 groups. From the 9th to the 12th of December, 2021, 104 groups competed in the zonal finals in Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi, where they demonstrated their dance prowess. Of the 104 groups, 73 groups with 949 dancers from all four zones advanced to the Grand Finale, which was held on December 19, 2021 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi. In the end, the distinguished Jury chose 36 teams from 15 states to perform at the Republic Day Parade. Watch for more details.