Republic Day Parade to showcase India’s indigenous military prowess, cultural diversity

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi will be the Chief Guest at the parade.

The week-long celebrations commenced with the Parakram Diwas on January 23, the birth anniversary of great freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

To mark the occasion, a one-of-a-kind Military Tattoo and Tribal Dance Festival ‘Aadi Shaurya - Parv Parakram ka’ was organised in New Delhi on Jan 23- 24.

The events will culminate on Jan 30 which is observed as Martyrs’ Day, a Ministry of Defence statement stated.

The celebrations are marked by attractive performances from Vande Bharatam group of dancers from across the country, tales of bravery by Veer Gatha 2.0 participants, melodious performances by School Bands at the National War Memorial, first-ever e-invitations, the largest-ever drone show and 3-D anamorphic projection.

The Republic Day parade, which will begin at around 10:30 hrs, will be a unique mix of the country’s military prowess and cultural diversity, depicting the country’s growing indigenous capabilities, Nari Shakti and emergence of a ‘New India’.

The parade ceremony will commence with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the National War Memorial.

He will lead the nation in paying solemn tributes to the fallen heroes by laying a wreath.

Thereafter, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries will head to the saluting dais at Kartavya Path to witness the parade, it added.

As per tradition, the National Flag will be unfurled followed by the National Anthem with a booming 21-gun salute. Amongst the many firsts, the 21-gun salute will be given with 105-mm Indian Field Guns.

It replaces the vintage 25 pounder gun, reflecting upon the growing ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence. Four Mi-17 1V/V5 helicopters of 105 Helicopter Unit will shower flower petals on the audience present at Kartavya Path.

The parade will commence with the President taking the salute.

The proud winners of the highest gallantry awards will follow. They include the winners of Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra.

Marching down the Kartavya Path for the first time will be the combined Band and Marching contingent of the Egyptian Armed Forces, led by Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdel Fattah El Kharasawy.

The contingent will consist of 144 soldiers, representing the main branches of the Egyptian Armed Forces.

The first contingent in the uniform of the 61 Cavalry will be led by Captain Raizada Shaurya Bali. The 61 Cavalry is the only serving active Horse Cavalry Regiment in the world, with the amalgamation of all the ‘State Horse Units’.

The Indian Army will be represented by a Mounted Column of 61 Cavalry, nine Mechanised Columns, six marching contingents and a fly past by Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) of Army Aviation Corps. Main Battle Tank ARJUN, NAG Missile System (NAMIS), Infantry Combat Vehicle of BMP-2 SARATH, Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicle, K-9 Vajra-tracked Self-Propelled Howitzer Gun, BrahMos missile, 10m Short Span Bridge, Mobile Microwave Node & Mobile Network Centre and AKASH (New Generation Equipment) will be the main attractions in the mechanised columns.

A total of six marching contingents of the Army, including The Mechanised Infantry Regiment, The Punjab Regiment, The Maratha Light Infantry Regiment, The Dogra Regiment, The Bihar Regiment and The Gorkha Brigade will march past the saluting dais.

Meanwhile, ahead of Republic Day, security has been beefed up across the national capital.

The security arrangement has been tightened with large numbers of Delhi Police and paramilitary forces personnel being deployed in the arrangement.

Intensive checking at metro stations, railway stations, bus terminals and taxi stands is being done.

Officials of all districts have been given instructions to visit markets, colonies and other important places and contact prominent persons in these areas and make them aware of the security, police said.