25 million (2.5 crore) students across the entire State of Maharashtra performed for 14 minutes

As the tricolour unfurled across India to mark Republic Day, the state of Maharashtra scripted a moment of history that blended discipline, patriotism, and youthful energy on an unprecedented scale. Under the leadership of the School Education Department, Government of Maharashtra, approximately 25 million (2.5 crore) students came together to perform the largest mass synchronized physical drill ever attempted for a patriotic song simultaneously, seamlessly, and with stirring unity.

For 14 continuous minutes, school campuses across the length and breadth of Maharashtra from bustling urban centres to remote rural villages transformed into synchronized arenas of national pride. At the same moment, students moved in perfect rhythm, their drills choreographed to a patriotic song that echoed the ideals of unity, discipline, and constitutional values. Though separated by geography, they were bound by a shared purpose, creating a living tapestry of collective expression. The scale of coordination behind the event was extraordinary. Teachers, administrators, district education officers, and volunteers worked for weeks to ensure uniformity in training, timing, and execution. Detailed planning enabled millions of young participants to follow the same movements, cues, and rhythm demonstrating not only physical discipline but also organisational excellence within the public education system.

More than a record-setting achievement, the drill was a powerful educational experience. It instilled values of teamwork, punctuality, physical fitness, and national responsibility among students. For many children, this was their first participation in a state-wide civic event an experience that left a lasting imprint on their understanding of citizenship and collective identity. As the final movement concluded and applause rippled across schools and communities, Maharashtra had done more than break a record. It had shown how education can extend beyond classrooms to shape character and consciousness. This adjudicated achievement stands as a landmark in student participation, proving that when millions move together with discipline and purpose, patriotism becomes not just a feeling but a visible, living force.