President Droupadi Murmu announced on Thursday the renaming of two iconic venues in Rashtrapati Bhavan. They renamed ‘Durbar Hall’ to ‘Ganatantra Mandap’ and ‘Ashok Hall’ to ‘Ashok Mandap.’
Durbar Hall hosts important ceremonial events such as the presentation of the National Awards. Representing India’s democratic traditions now called Ganatantra Mandap. The President renamed Ashok Hall, originally a ballroom used for special events, to Ashok Mandap.
Rashtrapati Bhavan serves as the residence and office of the President of India and symbolizes the nation’s cultural and architectural heritage.
Efforts to make Rashtrapati Bhavan accessible to people
“We are continuously making efforts to make Rashtrapati Bhavan more accessible to people. We consistently endeavor to make the ambiance reflective of Indian cultural values and ethos,” stated the President’s Secretariat.
“The term ‘Durbar’ referred to courts and assemblies of Indian rulers and the British. After India became a Republic, or ‘Ganatantra,’ it lost relevance. The statement added that ‘Ganatantra Mandap’ is an apt name for the venue, as the concept of ‘Ganatantra’ is deeply rooted in Indian society since ancient times.
In January last year, just before the historic Mughal Gardens opened to the public for the season, Rashtrapati Bhavan announced the common name ‘Amrit Udyan’ for the gardens. Deputy Press Secretary to the President, Navika Gupta, stated, ‘On the occasion of the celebration of 75 years of Independence as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The President of India has given a common name to the Rashtrapati Bhavan gardens as Amrit Udyan. And announced that the gardens could be visited by the general public from January 31 to March 26.”
