As a gesture of recognition for their efforts in cleaning rivers and water bodies, 163 guardians will be special guests at the Republic Day Parade 2026 at Kartavya Path, courtesy of the Jal Shakti Ministry. The spectator enclosures at the Parade have been named after various rivers like Beas, Brahmaputra, Chambal, and others to honor the country’s waterways.
This invitation not only acknowledges the community’s contributions but also offers rural citizens a chance to witness a significant national ceremony at Kartavya Path. The presence of these special guests emphasizes the importance of people’s participation and community engagement in national development efforts. They will be seated in the Periyar enclosure during the Parade.
Among the 63 special guests, including water warriors, 28 are from Uttarakhand, 10 from Jharkhand, 40 from Bihar, and 85 from Uttar Pradesh. The group comprises Ganga Praharis, volunteers from local communities dedicated to biodiversity conservation and Ganga’s cleanliness, working towards restoring the river’s ecological integrity.
These Ganga Praharis, along with private citizens and NGOs involved in aquatic fauna protection and river conservation, have been invited to witness the Republic Day Parade. V. L. Kantha Rao, Secretary of DoWR, RD & GR, will participate in the Republic Day Celebrations from the Ghaghra enclosure.
The special guests will have the opportunity to interact with Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil and Ministers of State V. Somanna and Raj Bhushan Choudhry on January 27.
