India Mandates Vande Mataram at Official Events

The Union Home Ministry issued new guidelines on Wednesday mandating the playing or singing of India's national song, Vande Mataram, at government functions, schools, and other official events across the country. The directives require all attendees to stand in attention during its rendition, establishing a formal protocol similar to that for the national anthem.

Under the guidelines, the full six-stanza version of Vande Mataram, lasting approximately three minutes and 10 seconds, must be performed at significant occasions. These include flag-hoisting ceremonies, the arrival and departure of the President and governors at formal events, civilian award presentations such as the Padma Awards, and national parades. When both Vande Mataram and the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, are part of a program, the national song is to be rendered first. The ministry has directed schools to incorporate the song into daily assemblies to promote respect for national symbols among students.

The rules specify that performances by bands should begin with a drum roll or bugle call for ceremonial clarity. Officials stated that the guidelines aim to ensure uniformity in the observance of national...