The National Day of Singapore is celebrated on 9 August each year.
This year marks the 57th anniversary since the city-state gained its sovereignty in 1965.
Singapore declared independence from Britain in August 1963. It joined the Federation of Malaysia in September 1963 after the 1962 Merger Referendum.
Singapore left the federation two years later and gained its own sovereignty on 9 August 1965, when Yusof bin Ishak was sworn in as the first President of Singapore.
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Singaporeans usually begin celebrations during the last weeks of July and continue throughout August. Celebrations include concerts, carnivals, and many other festivities.
The largest event among the celebrations is the annual National Day Parade (NDP), formerly held at Singapore’s National Stadium.
The annual ND will return this year to the floating platform at Marina Bay, under the theme “Stronger Together, Majulah!” – where “Majulah” means “onward”, a call for all Singaporeans to forge ahead united as the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event will feature 2,200 participants marching in-person and virtually and it is expected to attract some 26,000 spectators.
