Rashtrapati Bhavan change of guard ceremony, opened to the public for the first time

The traditional change of guard ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan has become a major tourist draw, with the 40-minute function being opened up to the public for the first time on Saturday.

New Delhi, Dec 15 : The traditional change of guard ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan has become a major tourist draw, with the 40-minute function being opened up to the public for the first time on Saturday.

The battalion changes once every three years, and every Saturday, a different company takes charge.

The sixth battalion of the Assam Regiment was appointed as the President's Bodyguard (PBG) last year.

The ceremony held on the lines of the one that takes place at the Buckingham Palace in London, is different in that in India, the function is held every Saturday with the objective of bringing Rashtrapati Bhavan closer to the public.Plans to make the ceremony an international tourist destination are in the pipeline.

People would be allowed to join the soldiers - mounted on horses and on foot - from the Raisina Hills to the gates of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

"We want more people to witness the function and to bring Rashtrapati Bhavan closer to the people. We desire that this should be a favourite tourist destination for domestic as well as foreign tourists. The ceremony has improved as a new colour has been added to it, and also a number of horses and soldiers. The musical theme has been changed and a number of flags have been added to it to make it more colourful and attractive," said Archana Datta, Public Relations Officer of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Assam Regiment was given the honour of taking over as the 'Ceremonial Army Guard Battalion' of the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the presence of Presdient Pratibha Patil.

Although, there was no bar on people witnessing the change of guard, it was mainly witnessed by foreign tourists.

The President's Bodyguard was raised in 1773 at Benaras in Uttar Pradesh by the then Governor-General. With India becoming a republic on January 26, 1950, the regiment came to be known as 'he President's Bodyguard'.

ANI