R-Day: Full dress rehearsal of cultural performance, flypast trials held

Nearly 2,500 artistes, set to perform at the Kartavya Path during the 77th Republic Day parade, took part in a full-dress rehearsal of their segment on Saturday. Besides, a rehearsal for the flypast event, a key attraction of the January 26 ceremony, was also held.

A total of 29 aircraft — 16 fighter jets, including Rafale, Su-30 MKI and Jaguar; four transport aircraft, including C-295; and nine helicopters — will be part of the two-phase flypast at the Republic Day parade, with a total of eight formations, a senior Air Force officer had said earlier.

While a dress rehearsal of the ceremonial parade was held a day ago, the flypast and some sections of the cultural performance could not be held due to inclement weather.

The main theme of the parade is Rs 150 years of Vande Mataram’, and it will span around 90 minutes.

“A group of artists will herald the parade, which was part of the rehearsal held on Friday, but the grand show, with nearly 2,500 artists representing different dance forms of India, could not be held. So, a full-dress rehearsal for that section was held on Saturday, as it will be a major attraction on January 26,” a senior official said. On Friday, armed forces personnel and artistes took part in the full-dress rehearsal, marching down the Kartavya Path amid morning rain, which briefly delayed the proceedings at the ceremonial boulevard. The broader theme of the performance is ‘Swatantra Ka Mantra — Vande Mataram’ and ‘Samriddhi Ka Mantra — Viksit Bharat’, officials said.