1st R-Day celebrations were held at a stadium; Delhi turned into 'fairlyland' on Jan 26, 1950 night
India were not held on Rajpath (now Kartavya Path), the historical avenue that has over time become synonymous with the ceremony, but it was a 1930s-era amphitheatre that became the venue for the festivities after the country got its first president. Iconic public buildings, parks and railway stations dazzled with lights on the night of January 26, 1950 turning the capital city into a «fairyland».
As the Republic turns platinum, it also encompasses an eventful journey of a nation that won independence from British rule in 1947.
The country erupted in celebration soon after Rajendra Prasad was sworn-in as India's first President on the historic day and the very first Republic Day function was held at Irwin Stadium here.
According to Google Arts and Culture website, the stadium was built in 1933 as a gift to Delhi from the Maharaja of Bhavnagar and named after former Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin, who had inaugurated the new British capital 'New Delhi' in February 1931 during his viceroyalty.
Designed by Robert Torr Russell, also the architect of the iconic Connaught Place in central Delhi, the amphitheatre was renamed to the National Stadium in 1951 just before the Asian Games was hosted.
In 2002, Major Dhyan Chand's name was affixed in honour of the hockey legend.
On the historic day of January 26, 1950, hours before the celebrations at the Irwin Amphitheatre, India, after having thrown off the British colonial yoke in 1947, assumed the mantle of a «Sovereign Democratic Republic».
