India, Aug. 7 -- Invitation cards issued by the defence ministry for this year's Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort include the lyrics of Vande Mataram, which will be played for the first time at the annual celebrations during the hoisting of the national flag, officials aware of the matter said on Friday.

The cards carry the lyrics of all six stanzas of the national song, the officials said. The song will be played before the national anthem at the 80th Independence Day celebrations.

Top ministers, military officers, bureaucrats, diplomats, students, and special guests, who have excelled across fields, attend the ceremony and receive the invitation cards.

Parliament passed a bill last week elevating the national song to the sam...