Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: India is celebrating its 76th Republic Day on Sunday with the theme “Golden India – Heritage and Development.”
India has invited Indonesian President Joko Widodo as the Chief Guest for the Republic Day celebrations. This is President Widodo’s first visit to India since assuming the presidency.
The Republic Day celebrations began at 10 am in New Delhi’s Kartavya Path, where President Droupadi Murmu hoisted the national flag, followed by a grand parade. The parade featured displays from various states and government departments, showcasing India’s cultural and military heritage.
India was declared a republic on January 26, 1950, after gaining independence from British colonial rule on August 15, 1947. With the adoption of the Constitution on January 26, 1950, India became a sovereign, democratic and republic nation.
In his message on the 76th Republic Day, the Indian ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, highlighted the deep-rooted ties between India and Nepal, which have been connected for millennia through geography, rivers, and the Himalayas.
Ambassador Srivastava noted that the large number of Indian pilgrims visiting Nepal’s sacred sites such as Pashupatinath, Muktinath and Janakpur Dham reflects the strong bond between the two nations. He also mentioned India’s ongoing support for Nepal’s economic development, citing the recent initiation of the first trilateral energy trade of 40 MW from Nepal to Bangladesh through the Indian grid in November 2024 as an example of enhanced connectivity.
He expressed optimism about the future of Nepal-India relations, emphasizing India’s commitment to supporting Nepal’s development and strengthening bilateral ties across various sectors.
