Maharashtra Police will introduce a ‘Change of Guard’ protocol on the lines of a similar and world-famous ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said here on Monday.
The protocol will be witnessed from May 1 – Maharashtra Day – at the State Police Headquarters complex in south Mumbai, close to the Gateway of India.
The ‘Change of Guard’ at Buckingham Palace is a colourful, spectacular and elaborate affair lasting nearly 45 minutes on certain days every week which is watched and photographed with great enthusiasm by Britishers and tourists from around the world.
Deshmukh said a similar treat – with a parade and police band playing to mark the ‘change of guard’ from one shift to another – would be available for both domestic and international travelers at the State Police Headquarters complex.
The announcement came after Deshmukh and Tourism Minister Aditya Thackeray paid at the visit to the Directorate-General of Police and finalized the proposal with the top police officials.
The police department will also set up a ‘Martyrs Gallery’ at the DGP Office as a tribute and an added tourist attraction.
A Tourism Department official informed that the ‘change of guard’ ceremony would also be popularized among the local and global tourists through various media to ensure maximum take advantage of it.
India currently has the famed ‘change of guard’ ceremony – at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi which is watched and photographed by thousands.-IANS News
