The Army Day parade on January 15 this year will be held in Bengaluru and this is the first time the event is taking place outside the national Capital. Army Chief General Manoj Pande will take the salute at the 75th Army Day parade.
The IAF last year held the Air Force Day on October 8 in Chandigarh. It was for the first time the parade was held outside the national Capital.
Karnataka became the first State to host this mega national event for the first time outside Delhi, Parade Commander Major General Ravi Murugan told reporters in Bengaluru. The first Army Chief Major General K M Cariappa took command of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Roy Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief in 1949 on January 15 thus becoming the first Indian Commander-in-Chief post-independence.
The programme will start with laying a wreath by the Army chief at the Madras Engineering War Memorial as tribute to those who made sacrifices for the nation, Murugan said.
The parade will witness eight contingents including a mounted contingent from the Army Service Corps and a military band comprising five regimental bands, he said.
The parade will be supported by a fly-past of Army aviation Dhruv and Rudra helicopters. In addition, various weapon systems held in the Army's inventory will be on display. They include K9 Vajra self-propelled guns, Pinaka rockets, T-90 tanks, BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Tunguska Air Defence System, 155mm Bofors guns, light strike vehicles, Swathi Radar and different assault bridges, the Parade Commander said.
The Army has invited people from all walks of life including students from schools, colleges, National Cadet Corps(NCC) and children from orphanages. Over 8,000 civilians have witnessed the parade during the pre-event displays thus far, Murugan said.
A high tea on January 14 has been planned in which Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot will be the chief guest, he said adding a military tattoo programme has also been organised on January 15 which Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will attend.