Durbar, Ashok halls renamed Ganatantra, Ashok Mandap

Venues for different ceremonial functions, Rashtrapati Bhavan's iconic 'Durbar Hall' and 'Ashok Hall' were on Thursday renamed 'Ganatantra Mandap' and 'Ashok Mandap', respectively.

Rashtrapati Bhavan, the office and the residence of the president of India, is a symbol of the nation, and an invaluable heritage of the people.

The Durbar Hall is the venue where the presentation of national awards is held, while the Ashok Hall was originally a ballroom. In an official statement, the government said that 'durbar', referring to courts and assemblies of Indian rulers and the British, lost relevance after India became a Republic - 'Ganatantra'.

"The concept of 'Ganatantra' is deeply rooted in Indian society since the ancient times, making 'Ganatantra Mandap' an apt name for the venue," the statement added. On the decision to rename Ashok Hall, the government said that the name 'Ashok Mandap' brings "uniformity in language and removes the traces of anglicisation" even while upholding the core values pertaining with the word 'Ashok'.

Accordingly, President Droupadi Murmu is pleased to rename two of the important halls of Rashtrapati Bhavan -- 'Durbar Hall' and 'Ashok Hall' -- as 'Ganatantra Mandap' and 'Ashok Mandap', respectively, it said.