CEREMONIALS
Rituals and ceremonies form an important part
of the life of an individual as well as a community. From birth, through
marriage, till the death, a number of ceremonies are associated with various
stages of human life. In official life also ceremonials and formalities
are quite closely associated in the observance of functions. IAS and IPS
officers in the districts and other central service officers as head of
the offices will have to plan for and conduct these ceremonial functions
in their official capacity. This note intends to give a brief idea and
guidelines on various functions which are observed in a ceremonial manner
in an official or semi-official capacity.
Ceremonials in government or semi government functions
achieve the following:
-
The promote a feeling of regard and respect for certain
National institutions,functions and personages.
-
They infuse a sense of distinctive pride with respect
to the National Flag and raise these functions above the ordinary and the
mundane functions in the minds of the minds of the people.
-
They satisfy the basic human need for rituals and
ceremonies, and
-
When uniformed elements take part in the functions,
certain degree of formality and ceremony becomes essential.
Therefore, official participation and its various
nuances should be learnt and appreciated by all at its early stage and
should not be left to be learnt in remote and far-off districts or offices
by the trial and error method.
Some of the point which need to be borne in mind
while arranging, observing or participating in functions of a ceremonial
nature are:
-
Conduct and bearing should be correct, poised and
sober on such occasions no flippancy nor triviality or brash humour should
be permitted.
-
Sobriety in dress and behaviour is important because
it set the tone for the function. Gentlemen officers should wear sherwanies
or closed collar coats and trousers or national dress ; lady officers should
wear sarees in plain white ,pastel shades or other sober colours. On sports
functions, depending on weather, blazers and scarfs or service ties may
be worn.
-
On ceremonial functions strictest punctuality must
be observed; late arrival will mean discourtesy to the public gather for
the functions and to the uninformed units who may be taking part in the
function.
-
If speeches are made they should preferably be Hindi
or the regional language concerned and should be short, concise and at
national function informality of content or tone should be avoided. Speeches
should be reduced to writing or atleast points jotted down before going
to the function.
Till they get accustomed to take part in such ceremonial
functions,officer will do well to rehearse their part a few times before
the final day.
Two important ceremonial functions in which the
officers of all india and central services are likely to a loading part
are the Republic Day and the Independence Day. Independence Day functions
comprise of flag hoisting on official and semi-official building or by
public bodies or institutions; sports arrangements for decorative lighting
on public buildings; symposis debate or poetry recital fuctions wityh some
such theme as national integration, etc. It may, however, be mention that
functions on the Independence Day are more in nature of introspective occasions
rather than public demonstration of natural fervour. It is the Republic
Day which is celebrated in a more elaborate manner and public expression
to national aspirations is given in a number of functions arranged on this
occasion.
The main function organised on the Republic Day
is the mourning parade where uniform elements belonging to the Police,
NCC, Home Gaurd, Fire Brigades, etc. are arranged at the district and divisional
headquarters and also at the state headquarters. In some place where they
are defence forces units, they may also take part in these parades. These
parades consist of flag hoisting ceremonies, march past,etc. In Delhi and
some of the State Capitals, the parades is followed by tableau, etc. Important
points to be borne in mind regarding flag hoisting and taking salutes at
march past are:
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