India’s prime minister traditionally addresses the nation from the Red Fort on Independence Day.
The ceremony takes place in Delhi each year and includes the hoisting of India’s national flag, a 21-gun salute, and the prime minister’s televised address. The speech reviews the government’s achievements and outlines national priorities.
The Red Fort was commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century as the palace-fort of his new capital, Shahjahanabad. Its red sandstone walls gave the monument its familiar name. The complex became closely associated with Indian history during the colonial period.
India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, raised the national flag at the Red Fort on 15 August 1947, following independence from British rule. The tradition is sometimes confused with Republic Day, whose main national ceremony is held at Kartavya Path and features a major military parade.