On the occasion of Republic Day celebrations in the national capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived sporting a red and yellow striped turban with a long veil, paired with a brown bandhgala jacket and a multi-coloured pocket square. He also sported white pyjama and churidar pants.
Modi arrived with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Kartavya Path, where he received President Droupadi Murmu and her Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto, who is attending the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest this year.
The multi-coloured turban highlighted the Prime Minister’s connection to India’s cultural heritage. Before arriving at Kartavya Path, PM Modi paid his respects to the fallen soldiers by observing a two-minute silence, honouring the supreme sacrifices of armed personnel who have protected the nation.
Prime Minister Modi performed a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial followed by President Murmu unfurling the Indian flag at Kartavya Path, marking the start of the Republic Day parade. Each year, the government selects a theme for the Republic Day celebrations, and this year’s theme is “Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas” (Golden India: Heritage and Progress).
In his message to the nation on India’s 76th Republic Day, PM Modi said, “Today, we celebrate 75 glorious years of being a Republic. We bow to all the great women and men who made our Constitution and ensured that our journey is rooted in democracy, dignity and unity. May this occasion strengthen our efforts towards preserving the ideals of our Constitution and working towards a stronger and prosperous India.”
PM Modi’s sartorial choices and his turban selections on Republic Day celebrations have always sparked conversation. Last year, he wore a multi-coloured turban, featuring a vibrant yellow hue, paired with a white kurta and a brown Nehru jacket. This outfit had its traditional Rajasthani Bandhani print, decorated by plucking the cloth with fingernails into many tiny bindings.
In 2023, he wore a multi-coloured Rajasthani turban and complemented it with a pair of trousers and a kurta. Later that year, on the 77th Independence Day, he opted for a vibrant Rajasthani-style turban, with multiple colours and a lengthy tail.
