Republic Day parade 2026: Navy wins best marching contingent award, Maharashtra tops tableau category

The Indian Navy was adjudged the best marching force among the three wings of the armed forces at this year’s Republic Day Parade, officials said.

While Maharashtra won the first prize in the States and Union Territories category for its painting depicting Ganeshotsav, the culture ministry’s painting celebrating the 150-year legacy of ‘Vande Mataram’ also emerged as the winner in the ministries and ministries category.

In a statement on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, Navy officials said that the Navy’s marching unit consists of 144 young personnel walking shoulder to shoulder on the historical Kartavya Road, symbolizing that this road is a progressive and strong naval power.

They said the Navy’s marching squad won the first prize in the best marching squadron among the three services, while the Delhi Police contingent was adjudged the best marching squadron among the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and other auxiliary forces.

In the State and Union Territories table category, Jammu and Kashmir bagged the second prize while Kerala stood third.

Maharashtra’s painting offered a blend of modernity and tradition, depicting the Ganesh festival as a symbol of self-reliance. During the parade on the ceremonial boulevard, a troupe of female dancers in traditional costumes performed the folk dance Lezim on both sides of the table.

The culture ministry’s tableau celebrated 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’ and showcased the composition of the song by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, a colonial-era recording by a famous Marathi singer and the rendition of the song by a group representing ‘Generation Z’.

Themed ‘Vande Mataram: The Soul Cry of a Nation’, the painting had a manuscript of ‘Vande Mataram’ being composed in the foreground, while the panel below depicted a painting by Chatterjee.

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The middle section featured a group of artists wearing traditional costumes depicting the diversity of India’s people, while some were seen in modern attire representing ‘Generation Z’.

Behind them, a series of art installations displaying Vishnupant Pagnis, the famous actor and musician of Marathi cinema and theatre, Vishnupant Pagnis recording the song, freedom fighters facing the gallows and an imposing image of ‘Bharat Mata’ (Mother India) holding the Tricolour.

An official said the depiction was from a rare recording of the song made by him in 1928.

Another official said that the award presentation ceremony will be held on January 30 at the Rashtriya Rangshala Camp.

A special award was given to the Central Public Works Department’s painting celebrating the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram’ with a floral float; Dance group ‘Vande Mataram: India’s Eternal Resonance’ was also involved, officials said.

In the ‘Popular Choice’ category, according to online poll MyGov On its portal, citizens voted the Assam Regiment as the best marching unit among the three troops, while the CRPF also won the award for the best marching unit among the CAPFs and other auxiliary forces.

Gujarat bagged the top spot in the popular choice category for states and Union territories with its theme painting ‘Swadeshi-Self-Reliance-Freedom Mantra: Vande Mataram’, followed by Uttar Pradesh (theme – Bundelkhand Culture) and Rajasthan (theme – Golden Touch of the Desert: Bikaner Golden Art).

It was stated that the table of the Department of School Education and Literacy (theme – National Education Policy) was selected as the best table among central ministries and departments in the ‘Popular Choice’ category.