– Ronita Torcato

At India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations hosted at Kartavya Path, Delhi, two school bands from Maharashtra achieved recognition at the national level, competing with 760 teams for the honours.

They are the Sanjivini Sainik School & Junior College Brass Band (Boys) from Kopargaon, District Ahilyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar) and the Don Bosco High School & Junior College Brass Band (Girls) located at Tagore Nagar, Vikhroli, Mumbai.

The Sanjivini Sainik School bagged the first prize in the Boys’ Brass Band category at the National School Band Competition 2026. Representing the West Zone, the band secured the top spot and was awarded a cash prize of ₹51,000, a trophy, and certificates. The performance was lauded for its precision and musicality, by a jury comprising members from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Don Bosco High School & Junior College bagged the third prize in the National Grand Finale in the Brass Band (Girls) category. Also representing the West Zone, the all-girls brass band showcased exceptional talent, earning a podium finish and a cash prize of ₹21,000.

Their recognition coincided with National Girl Child Day (January 24), highlighting the theme of Nari Shakti (Women Power) emphasized during the 2026 celebrations.

The bands were chosen after a rigorous four-stage process starting from the district, state, and zonal levels, involving over 760 school band teams nationwide.

The two Maharashtra bands were among the 16 finalists selected from across the country to compete in the National School Band Competition Grand Finale at the National Bal Bhavan, New Delhi, on January 24.

Following their success in the competition, the students were invited as special guests to witness the Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path.

The main parade featured the theme of 150 years of Vande Mataram.

In a statement, the Ministry of Education noted that such participation is key to the National Education Policy 2020’s goal of fostering leadership, discipline, and holistic development.

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