Rashtrapati Bhavan has finally let its guard down—or so we thought when we first read reports of the Change of Guard ceremony being opened to the public last month. But apparently, the aam admi has been welcome as a spectator at this daily equestrian display by the President’s Bodyguard for a full five years now. A fact that went unnoticed, until recently, when the ceremony was shortened from 45 to 30 minutes and relocated from North Block to the forecourt following instructions from the new high command. Held every Saturday, now anyone with a government-approved ID card can gallop through Gate No. 2 near the Prime Minister’s Office at 10am (winter timings) so long as he or she is among the first two hundred to get there. Saddle up and tear along then, dear citizen.

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