Union Home Ministry Issues Guidelines on Vande Mataram Playing in Cinemas

The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday issued fresh guidelines governing the singing and playing of the national song Vande Mataram, clarifying that audiences are not required to stand when it is played as part of a film screening in cinema halls. The directive has been sent to all states and Union territories, as well as ministries and constitutional bodies, outlining protocols for official occasions.

Under the new guidelines, a six-stanza version of Vande Mataram, lasting approximately 3 minutes and 10 seconds, is to be played or sung at a range of official events. These include the unfurling of the national flag, the arrival of the President at formal functions before and after presidential addresses to the nation, and during similar occasions involving governors. The ministry noted that while the list of events is not exhaustive, the song may be sung respectfully on other occasions provided proper decorum is maintained.

The guidelines also specify that when Vande Mataram is performed with band accompaniment, a drum roll or bugle call should precede it to alert the audience. In instances where both the national song and the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, are played together, Vande Mataram must be performed first. In such cases, the audience is required to stand at attention during the rendition.

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Schools across the country have been directed to begin the day with the collective singing of Vande Mataram. Authorities have also been asked to promote awareness and respect for Vande Mataram, Jana Gana Mana, and the national flag among students. The move formalises practices that have varied across institutions over the years.

Significantly, the ministry clarified that in cinema halls, audiences need not stand if Vande Mataram is played during a film. The guideline states that standing in the middle of a movie presentation may disrupt the screening and cause disturbance. Unlike the national anthem, which has clearly defined rules regarding its rendition and observance, Vande Mataram previously did not have an officially codified protocol. The expanded six-stanza version has also not typically been used at formal events until now.

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