Republic Day 2026: Why India Unfurls the Flag Instead of Hoisting It

New Delhi: The country is going to celebrate its 77th Republic Day on 26 January. This is the day when the Constitution of India came into force in 1950 and the country formally started as a republic. Like every year, this time too the parade on the duty path, tableaus of the states and fly-past of the Air Force will make this day special.

Amidst all these preparations, a question often comes to people's minds—after all, is the tricolor hoisted or opened on Republic Day?

What happens to the flag on Republic Day?

On Republic Day, the national flag is not hoisted but is opened, which is called "unfurling" in English. On the contrary, the flag is hoisted on 15th August i.e. Independence Day, which is called hoisting. In common parlance, both the words are used the same way, but the tradition and method are different.

What does it mean to “open” the flag?

When the flag is already tied on the pole and as soon as the rope is opened, it spreads downwards and becomes completely visible, then it is called opening the flag. The President does this work on Republic Day. After this the national anthem plays and a 21-gun salute is given by the army. With this the parade begins.

What is the process of “hoisting” the flag?

The flag is tied at the bottom of the pole on Independence Day. The Prime Minister pulls the rope and takes it to the top, where it starts waving in the air. It reminds me of the independence that the country got after a long struggle.

How does the Republic Day program start?

Usually at around 9 am the president unfurls the flag on the duty path. After this the national anthem and gun salute and then the parade starts. Contingents of the three services of the army, tableaux of the states, and cultural programs are part of this parade.

Who is this year's chief guest?

This time, two big leaders of the European Union will attend the Republic Day celebrations as chief guests—European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It is also considered important from the point of view of India-Europe relations.

What has been the theme this time?

The theme of the 2026 ceremony is—

“Mantra of Freedom: Vande Mataram” and
“The Mantra of Prosperity: Self-Reliant India.”

Its objective is to put forward the spirit of independence as well as the resolve to make the country self-reliant.