The iconic Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan, traditionally used for important ceremonies and celebrations such as the presentation of National Awards, has been renamed ‘Ganatantra Mandap,’ according to a press release from the President’s Secretariat.
Ashok Hall, originally designed as a ballroom, will now be known as Ashok Mandap, the release said, adding that name changes were carried out to align with India’s rich cultural heritage.
According to the release, the term ‘Durbar,’ referring to an imperial court, became outdated after India transitioned to a republic, or ‘Ganatantra.’ “The concept of ‘Ganatantra’ is deeply rooted in Indian society since ancient times, making ‘Ganatantra Mandap’ an apt name for the venue,” it said.
Renaming Ashok Hall to Ashok Mandap was intended to bring “uniformity in language and remove traces of anglicization while upholding the key values associated with the word.”
The statement highlighted the multiple meanings of the word Ashok: it denotes someone “free from all sufferings” or “bereft of any sorrow.” It also refers to Emperor Ashoka, a symbol of unity and peaceful coexistence whose lion capital from Sarnath serves as India’s National Emblem, and the Ashok tree, significant in Indian religious traditions, arts, and culture. The word Mandap is a Sanskrit term traditionally used to describe a pavilion or sacred space in Indian culture.
