This year, the number of tableaux has been reduced to 19 from last year's 23. The tableaux -- 14 from states and five from ministries and departments -- will showcase the country's varied cultural diversity, development in science and technology and economic strength.
The high point will be the Cinema Mayur Pankhi celebrating 100 years of Indian cinema, making of Kashmir's famed pashmina shawls and Noori, the first cloned goat, the Kinnal craft of Karnataka and others.
The Cinema Mayur Pankhi, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry's float, pays respects to numerous landmark movies, legendary musicians, singers and actors, including Guru Dutt, Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan and Sridevi. Actor Irrfan Khan will give the voice over for the tableau.
Artistes depicting landmark roles in films like Gabbar Singh (Sholay), Mogambo (Mr India), Shehanshah (Shehanshah) and Bhuvan (Lagaan) will also be part of the tableau.
The first tableau to roll out will be that of West Bengal which pays tributes to the "ethereal thinker-patriot-saint" Swami Vivekananda, whose 150th birth anniversary will be celebrated this year. Vivekananda is depicted as one who is propagating the message "truth is one but the wise call it by different names".
Uttar Pradesh will come up with 'Braj ki Holi' -- a social and cultural festival embracing all the social and regional diversities in itself. The tableau depicts a scene where the women of Barsana are trying to fend off the 'gops' of Nandgaon region of Brijbhumi.
The north-eastern state of Meghalaya, also known as the abode of clouds, came up with post-harvest festival dance Wangala, a thanks giving ceremony to their God 'Misi Saljong' (The Great Giver). The dance is played to beats of 100 drums.
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Karnataka tableau will be offering 'Kinna', a craft primarily used to carve religious idols and toys. Its main attraction is Kamdhenu, the mythical cow.
One of the interesting concept this year is from Jammu and Kashmir, which is showcasing a unique blend of tradition and technology with world's first cloned pashmina goat 'Noori' and the pashmina-making process. The clone has come a good news for the fine fibre-producing pashmina goat, which are only spotted at an altitude of 14,000-ft in Ladakh.
Jharkhand, which is participating in the parade after a gap of five years, is depicting the Dokra art -- a specialised metal cast technique using wax casting. (More)