CHANDIGARH: After a gap of four years the tableau of Punjab will be featuring on the Rajpath in New Delhi with other states on the occasion of Republic Day parade on January 26. The theme of the state’s tableau this year will be ‘Jago’ which is pre-wedding ceremony which usually happens the night before a Punjabi wedding and is a chance for friends and family to rejoice and dance together in celebration.
A pot (gaggar) is decorated with candles and carried on the head whilst dancing and singing Jago songs. The word Jago means “wake up” and gets everyone in the mood for what’s to come. The ceremony starts with the women dressed in a traditional Punjabi Ghaghara dancing with the pot on their head. The pot is then passed around the rest of the family and friends where they take their turn in the Jago.
Sources said that in the tableau, four women would be seen dancing in front with the pot on their heads in front of a house decorated as where a wedding is taking place.
In 2012, the tableau of Punjab on Maharaja Ranjit Singh formed the part of the Republic Day parade, after that the state government had proposed to send tableau on various themes like Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute, solar energy, and religious and historic memorials (Khalsa Heritage Complex), Baba Farid, Teej festival and the Kila Raipur games but were rejected by the Defence ministry’s selection committee in the Union government. However, last year, the tableau designed on heritage and modern architecture prepared by the Chandigarh Administration was part of the parade.
Also, government of Delhi will be participating with their tableaux in the parade after three years and their theme is Adarsh Schools. Lakshadweep Islands are also set to take part in the parade after twenty three years and their tableaux is on the theme natural beauty and tourism of the island.