A tableau depicting the rich heritage and legacy of Uttarakhand is all set to win over the crowd at the Republic Day parade to be held in New Delhi on January 26. The tableau on ‘Anasakti Ashram’, located at Kausani (Bageshwar), will refresh the memories from 1929 when Mahatma Gandhi visited Kumaon Hills and had stayed there for two weeks. The peaceful environs and immaculate beauty of Kausani led Gandhi to term it ‘Switzerland of India.’

Uttarakhand will be participating with a tableau on the Anasakti Ashram which is closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi. To mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Government of India has made Gandhi the theme for the tableau participating in the Republic Day parade. The Uttarakhand tableau was shortlisted after a six-round meeting with the expert select committee.

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Mahatma Gandhi had visited this ashram located at Kausani in 1929 and wrote a review of the book “Anasakti Yoga” at this place. This ashram is operated by local women. A daily prayer meeting is organized in the ashram every morning and evening and the ashram has been developed as a library and research centre.

Apart from the replica of the Ashram, the tableau will also showcase people practising Yoga, other leisure work, Deodar forest, famous shrines, and snow-covered peaks.

Deputy Director, Information Department and Nodal Officer of National Ceremony KS Chauhan said, “The first meeting for selection of tableau was held on November 30, 2018, in New Delhi. The proposals of 31 states and 20 ministries were discussed. After a six-round meeting and presentation, the Special Selection Committee has finally selected the tableaus of 14 States and 6 Ministries which include Uttarakhand as well.”

The tableaus of Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal have been selected.