Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt on Tuesday here gave away the best marching contingents and tableaux awards for this year’s Republic Day parade. Delhi Police women marching contingent bagged the best marching award amongst the paramilitary forces while the Sikh Regiment got the award in the services category.

The colourful tableau of Odisha that showcased women empowerment in the state as well as its rich handicraft and handloom sector has bagged the first prize among the tableaux showcased by various states and UTs, officials said on Tuesday.

Gujarat’s tableau showcasing Dhordo tourism village has earned the first place in the people’s choice category. Culture Ministry’s tableau themed ‘Bharat: Mother of Democracy’ bagged the first prize among tableaux which were displayed by various ministries and departments during the ceremonial parade. Ministry of Home Affairs tableau depicting ‘vibrant villages’ has won the second prize.

A total of 16 tableaux from states and Union territories, and nine from central ministries and departments had rolled down the Kartavya Path during the grand celebrations which was graced by French President Emmanuel Macron.

The states and Union territories which presented their tableaux included Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Ladakh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana.

Three panels of judges were appointed for assessing the performance of Marching Contingents from three Services, Marching Contingents from Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)/other auxiliary forces and tableaux from various States/Union Territories and Ministries/Departments.