{
  "id": 943325,
  "title": "On video: Vande Mataram kickstarts Red Fort Independence Day celebrations in a historic first",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/on-video-vande-mataram-kickstarts-red-fort-independence-day",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-15T03:34:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/on-video-vande-mataram-kickstarts-red-fort-independence-day-celebrations-in-a-historic-first-101786760551363.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Saturday morning, India celebrated its 80th Independence Day at the Red Fort by first playing Vande Mataram, the national song of India. This historic event followed the passage of the Vande Mataram Bill during the recently concluded monsoon session of Parliament. President Droupadi Murmu granted assent to the Bill, granting Vande Mataram the same legal protection as the national anthem. The grand function marked 150 years of Vande Mataram as floral decorations depicted the national flag at the center flanked by Vande Mataram in Hindi. An Army band played the tune of Vande Mataram while guests, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, attended the ceremony. Vande Mataram recitation was followed by the recitation of the national anthem, which was then sung by the guests. In his Independence Day speech, Modi highlighted the significance of Vande Mataram being rendered at the Red Fort for the first time since Independence.",
  "summary": "PM Modi highlighted the significance of Vande Mataram being rendered at the Red Fort and described it as a historic moment.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Press Journal",
        "title": "India Celebrates 80th Independence Day: PM Modi To Lead Red Fort Celebrations, Vande Mataram To Take Centre Stage",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/india-celebrates-80th-independence-day-pm-modi-to-lead-red-fort",
        "published": "2026-08-15T01:59:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "Vande Mataram Played For 1st Time During Independence Day Celebrations At Red Fort",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/vande-mataram-played-for-1st-time-during-independence-day",
        "published": "2026-08-15T02:13:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}