Menu
India celebrates R-Day with spectacular parade
Indian President Droupadi Murmu kick-started the 74th Republic Day celebrations across the country by unfurling the tri-colored flag at the revamped Central Vista avenue in New Delhi on Thursday. This is the first R-Day celebration that is taking place at the ceremonial boulevard after being renamed to Kartavya Path in September last year.
For the first time, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi took part in the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar, union ministers, Army officers and other higher-ups attended the event.
On the occasion of the R-Day, Prime Minister Modi paid tribute at the national war memorial in the country capital before receiving the President Murmu and the chief guest to the venue in the presence of Indian Army’s 61 Cavalry regiment.
Murmu led the nation in celebrating the 74th Republic Day of the country. The celebrations commence at 10:30 am with the parade of Egyptian army contingent comprising 144 soldiers in the presence of their President Sisi.
The parade by the Indian army displayed the country’s military prowess along with its cultural diversity. It also showcased India’s developing indigenous capabilities, emergence of a ‘New India’ and the power of women. As many as 23 tableaux – 17 from statues and union territories and six from union ministries – portrayed the diversified cultural heritage and economic and social progress of the country were included in the parade.
74th Republic Day
The Indian soldier’s the Corps of Signals MotorCycle Rider Display – popularly known as the Dare Devils – team displayed their stunning acrobatic skills. As a part of it, as many as 11 children who had bagged Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar awards, formerly known as the national child award for exceptional achievement, were included.
The event concluded with a flypast featuring about 45 planes from the Air Force, four helicopters from the Army and one plane from the Navy. After completing more than four decades of its service, the Navy’s Ilyushin IL-38SD flew over the venue for the first and last time. The all-weather aircraft with a substantial operating range, which was commissioned in 1977, was decommissioned on January 17.
To perform in the cultural events on the R-Day, the union government had selected as many as 479 artists across the country through its ‘Vandhe Bharatam’ competitions. This is the second time artists were selected through competitions to perform in the celebrations.
About 6,000 security personnel were deployed and 150 CCTVs were installed at and around the venue as a part of the security measures. This year, the public were allowed to participate in the event and sitting arrangements were made for vegetable and milk sellers, rickshaw drivers, construction drivers and load men among others on the first row close to the Parliament building.