Nation

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; New Delhi | July 30 : The ceremonial ‘Change of Guard’ event held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan premises will not be conducted on August 1 and August 8 due to preparations and rehearsals for the upcoming Independence Day celebrations, the President’s Secretariat announced on Thursday.

According to an official notification issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan authorities, the scheduled guard-changing ceremony will remain suspended on these two dates as security personnel and officials will be engaged in arrangements and rehearsals related to the Independence Day programme.

The ‘Change of Guard’ ceremony is a traditional military event conducted at the Rashtrapati Bhavan complex, where a new group of guards formally takes over responsibility from the existing unit. The ceremony is held regularly and attracts visitors who come to witness the discipline, precision, and ceremonial traditions of the Indian armed forces.

Due to the extensive preparations required for the national celebration on August 15, temporary changes have been made to the regular schedule of the event. The authorities clarified that the suspension is only for these two days and the ceremony will resume after the completion of Independence Day rehearsals.

The official statement further informed that once the Independence Day preparations and related rehearsals are completed, the Change of Guard ceremony will restart according to its regular schedule.

The temporary suspension is part of the annual arrangements made ahead of Independence Day, when Rashtrapati Bhavan and other key government locations in New Delhi undergo enhanced security measures and operational adjustments to ensure the smooth conduct of national events.

The President’s Secretariat has requested visitors to take note of the schedule change and plan their visits accordingly. The ceremonial event will continue as usual after the temporary disruption caused by the Independence Day preparations.