You should know this about Republic Day

1. Republic day (celebrated on 26th January) is the day Indian Constitution came into force. The day chosen is a special one and we waited for 2 months after the constitution was enacted to declare it open on this day. 20 years before we became a modern republic on 26th Jan 1950, on this day we declared Purna Swaraj or "Declaration of Independence" in Lahore on the banks of River Ravi. Purna Swaraj. Congress was at its full strength then, with Bose, Rajaji, Nehru and Patel with the Mahatma. Within 6 weeks of this declaration, Mahatma started the iconic Dandi march to start implementing the idea.  Thus 26th Jan is our first independence day. 
   
   
   The place of purna swaraj declaration in Lahore.
2. Our Constitution, the longest in the world, was drafted by a team of stalwarts led by B.R. Ambedkar. The team included Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer, Gopalswami Iyengar, TT. Krishnamachary, DP Khaitan, Sir Benegal, Kanyalal Munshi and Md Saadullah. The Constuition has 448 articles, 12 schedules and 118 amendments.
   
3. The original book of our Constitution is a 479 page calligraphic edition signed by all our framers and preserved in a helium filled case in our Parliament. Browse the full book here: The Constitution of India
4. While the Prime Minister is the protagonist during the Independence Day celebrations, it is the President who takes the center stage during the Republic Day celebrations. The President takes the military salute as the Commander in Chief of Indian Armed forces, in Delhi while all the governors take the respective salutes in the state capitals. The President is accompanied by a foreign head of state as the official guest. In 2013, the King of Bhutan was the given the honor. 
   
   (I have embedded 2004 Parade from President Kalam's time)
5. The events are started by the Prime Minister with a short dedication at the military memory (Amar Jawan Jothi) at the India gate. This is the only role the PM has on that day. 
   
   
   
   
   
   (Google doodle for today)
6. The parade and other celebrations take place in Raj Path(the avenue of the kings/government). Almost all the events happen in the stretch between Rashtrapathi Bhavan to India Gate.
   
   
7. The Republic Day Celebrations happen over 3 days and it ends on 29th Jan with a band playing the Christian song: Abide with Me. These traditions date back to the British Raj. And this looks completely anachronistic now. 
   
8. Until our Constitution came into force, we used the British era Government of India Act 1935 to rule our country.
9. India's major national awards (such as Bharat Ratna, Padma Bhushan) are awarded during the ceremony.