Will 163 River Guardians Attend the R-Day Parade as Guests of Jal Shakti Ministry?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 163 river guardians will attend the Republic Day Parade 2026.
- They represent a grassroots movement for river conservation.
- Their efforts are recognized at a national level.
- Enclosures at the parade honor significant rivers.
- Community engagement is vital for sustainability.
New Delhi, Jan 25 (NationPress) A remarkable group of 163 guardians, dedicated to the preservation and cleaning of rivers and water bodies, will attend the Republic Day Parade 2026 on Monday at Kartavya Path as esteemed Special Guests of the Jal Shakti Ministry, according to an official announcement.
The official from the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation highlighted that in honor of the nation’s rivers, spectator enclosures for the Parade will bear the names of significant rivers including Beas, Brahmaputra, Chambal, Chenab, Gandak, Ganga, Ghagra, Godavari, Sindhu, Jhelum, Kaveri, Kosi, Krishna, Mahanadi, Narmada, Pennar, Periyar, Ravi, Sone, Sutlej, Teesta, Vaigai, and Yamuna.
“This invitation for Special Guests not only acknowledges community efforts but also offers rural residents the chance to partake in a nationally significant event at Kartavya Path,” the official stated.
“Their presence will underscore the importance of people’s participation (Jan Bhagidari) and community involvement as vital components of national development initiatives. These Special Guests will be accommodated in the Periyar enclosure,” the statement elaborated.
Among the 63 Special Guests, consisting of water warriors, there are 28 from Uttarakhand, 10 from Jharkhand, 40 from Bihar, and 85 from Uttar Pradesh.
The Special Guests include Ganga Praharis, who are passionate and trained volunteers from local communities dedicated to the conservation and cleanliness of the Ganga, as noted in the statement.
They strive to achieve the goals of restoring the “Nirmal and Aviral Dhara” and maintaining the ecological balance of the river through a collaborative effort involving the National Mission for Clean Ganga and the Wildlife Institute of India.
In addition to the Ganga Praharis, private citizens and NGOs engaged in protecting aquatic life such as dolphins and turtles, as well as river conservation and community outreach, have also been invited to observe the Republic Day Parade.
V. L. Kantha Rao, Secretary of DoWR, RD & GR, is expected to participate in the Republic Day Celebrations from the Ghaghra enclosure, as stated in the announcement.
The Special Guests will have the opportunity to interact with Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil and both Ministers of State, V. Somanna and Raj Bhushan Choudhry, on January 27, as mentioned in the statement.