R-Day parade to feature 21 tableaux

As many as 21 tableaux will form part of this year's Republic Day Parade on January 26 and showcase India's cultural diversity, development in science and technology, military might and economic strength.

The tableaux will be from 13 states and eight Central Ministries/Departments, depicting themes such as industrial progress, national heritage, traditional art and culture and legendary personalities.

According to an official press release, the tableau of Rajasthan will depitct the Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory at Jaipur, while that from Manipur will be based on Hiryang Tanaba, the traditional boat race of the Meiteis tribe.

The Bihar tableau will focus on the Bhagalpur silk weavers, the one from Maharashtra on the the "dabbawalas" of Mumbai, the suppliers of lunch boxes from home to thousands of office-goers in the metropolis, and the one from Karnataka will depict Pattada Kal, a world heritage site.

The Meghalaya tableau will be on the indigenous bamboo drip irrigation system and Tripura's will focus on the late film music director Sachin Deb Burman.

The tableau from Jammu & Kashmir will be on handicrafts such as wood carving, willow work and carpet weaving while Goa tableau will focus on the International Film Festival of India, for which it is now the permanent venue.

The 2500 million year-old stalagmite Kotumsar caves will be the subject of the Chhattisgarh tableau, while the Padayani festival, dedicated to Goddess Kali, will be the theme of the Kerala display.

Cane, bamboo and textiles will be the theme of the Mizoram tableau, while the Uttarakhand display will be focused on the Kumbh Mela at Hardwar.

Among others, the Ministry of Culture's tableau will display music instruments of India, while the tableau of the Ministry of Rural Development will be on the Indira Awaas Yojana and the Ministry of Railways will focus on the steam locomotives of yesteryears and the latest Duronto Express trains.

The Ministry of Power has planned a tableau on "Green Energy" and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs one on the Forest Rights Act. The Ministry of Agriculture has a tableau on traditional ploughing and modern farm equipment, while the Department of Sports will depict the coming Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010, which is blled as the first "Green Games".

The release said nearly 400 artists, fabricators and designers are involved in the making of these tableaux at the special artists' village in the capital.

NNN