The newly redeveloped and renamed Kartavya Path (formerly, Rajpath) witnessed the return of an old tradition, which had been abandoned for almost four decades, at the 75th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. Reviving a 250-year-old tradition on the 75th Republic Day, President Droupadi Murmu and her French counterpart Emanuel Macron arrived on the Kartavya Path in a traditional buggy, which made a comeback after 40 years. The presidential buggy was in use for Republic Day functions till 1984, but was discontinued after the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi due to security reasons and presidents began using limousines for travel.
During the British era, the buggy belonged to the Viceroy of India. After the partition, both India and Pakistan wanted the fancy buggy, and there was no longer a higher power to sort this quarrel. Lt Col Thakur Govind Singh from India and Pakistan Army's Sahabzada Yaqub Khan let the responsibility of the buggy ownership rest on a coin. India won the toss and since then the buggy has been with India and the same has been used by several presidents on various occasions.
Before Murmu, it was India’s former President Pranab Mukherjee who rode the horse-drawn buggy in 2014 while attending the Beating Retreat ceremony. Former President Kovind, who succeeded Pranab Mukherjee, continued the tradition of riding the buggy. He inspected the Guard of Honour in the presidential buggy after he took oath in 2017.
The presidential horse-drawn buggy is a black carriage that has the Ashoka Chakra, embossed in gold. It has gold plated rims and is drawn by a mixed breed of Indian and Austrian horses. The presidents were escorted by the President's Bodyguard – "Rashtrapati Ke Angrakshak". The President's Bodyguard is the senior most regiment of the Indian Army. This Republic Day is special for this elite Regiment as the "Angrakshak' have completed 250 years of service since its raising in 1773.
The President's Bodyguard is the oldest cavalry unit. Fifty-five horses participate in the parade contingent, with six horses drawing the presidential buggy.
The mix of Indian and Austrian horses have a minimum height of 150cm and weigh around 500kg. Their colours range from bay, dark to grey. The horses' uniform comprises white head collar, bridle bit, white badgor, leather breastplate, steel and leather reins and lance bucket.