India celebrated its 75th Republic Day on Friday with a grand display of its women power, rich cultural heritage, and military might, which included missiles, warplanes, surveillance gadgets, and lethal weapon systems. French President Emmanuel Macron graced the occasion as the chief guest.
The Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path in the heart of the national capital commenced with President Droupadi Murmu taking the salute shortly after she and Macron, flanked by the Indian President's bodyguards, arrived in a traditional buggy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, several other Union ministers, the country's top military brass, foreign diplomats, and senior officials were among those who witnessed the impressive show. The event also featured a gravity-defying fly-past by helicopters and planes, with even dense fog failing to dampen the spirits of the spectators."
The themes of the celebrations were "Viksit Bharat" and "Bharat - Loktantra Ki Matruka" (India-Mother of Democracy). A 95-member marching contingent and a 30-member band contingent from France also participated in the parade.
Two Rafale fighters and an Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport aircraft from the French air force were featured in the celebrations. The event concluded with a jaw-dropping fly-past by 46 aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
Two Rafale fighter jets, flanked by a Phoenix multi-role tanker transport aircraft from the French air force, roared across the skies of Delhi as India celebrated its 75th Republic Day at a grand parade on Friday, with French President Emmanuel Macron gracing the occasion as the chief guest.
As around 95 French troops marched down Kartavya Path in the heart of the national capital, whizzing warplanes pierced the morning sky, prompting thousands of spectators to crane their necks in wonder and amazement. A 30-member band contingent from France also drew attention at the grand parade.
This marked the second time the French armed forces participated in India's Republic Day celebrations. In 2016, French troops became the first foreign military contingent to take part in the country's biggest ceremonial event.
For the first time, an all-women tri-services contingent marched down Kartavya Path, reflecting the country's growing 'Nari Shakti' (women power).
In another first, the parade was heralded by over 100 women artists playing Indian musical instruments such as sankh, naadswaram, and nagada instead of traditional military bands, kickstarting the celebrations. The first Army contingent leading the mechanised column was the 61 Cavalry, established in 1953. It was followed by 11 mechanised columns, 12 marching contingents, and a fly-past featuring advanced light helicopters of the Army Aviation Corps.
Key displays in the mechanised columns included T-90 Bhishma tanks, NAG missile systems, infantry combat vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, the weapon locating radar system Swathi, drone jammer systems, and medium-range surface-to-air missiles.
The all-women tri-service contingent, led by Captain Sandhya of the Army Military Police, accompanied by three supernumerary officers, Captain Sharanya Rao, Sub Lieutenant Anshu Yadav, and Flight Lieutenant Shrishti Rao, received tremendous applause.
Another all-women Armed Forces Medical Services contingent, headed by Major Srishti Khullar, with Captain Amba Samant of the Army Dental Corps, Surgeon Lieutenant Kanchana of the Indian Navy, and Flight Lieutenant Dhivya Priya of the Indian Air Force, also marched down the ceremonial boulevard.
The Army's marching contingents included the Madras Regiment, the Grenadiers, the Rajputana Rifles, the Sikh Regiment, and the Kumaon Regiment.
The Indian Navy's contingent comprised 144 men and women Agniveers, led by Lt Prajwal M as the contingent commander, and Lt Mudita Goyal, Lt Sharvani Supreiya, and Lt Devika H as platoon commanders.
This was followed by a naval tableau, depicting the themes "Nari Shakti" and 'Sea Power Across the Oceans Through Indigenisation. On display were Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM), Astra, light combat aircraft Tejas, Uttam active electronically scanned array radar (AESAR), advanced electronic warfare systems, and Shakti Cyber Security systems.
The IAF fleet comprised 29 fighter jets, seven transport aircraft, nine helicopters, and a heritage plane. All these aircraft operated from six different bases. Fifteen women pilots, including six from the fighter streams, operated the IAF platforms during the fly-past.
For the first time, indigenously-built Tejas aircraft flew in a formation of four aircraft. Although there was a previous occasion with one Tejas jet being part of the Republic Day parade, this marked the first time the aircraft flew in a formation.
The ceremony began with the Prime Minister's visit to the National War Memorial, where he led the nation in paying solemn tributes to the fallen heroes by laying a wreath. Minutes later, President Murmu and her French counterpart Macron arrived in the 'traditional buggy'.
The national flag was then unfurled, accompanied by the national anthem, and a 21-gun salute using the indigenous 105-mm Indian Field Guns.
Following this, four Mi-17 IV helicopters from the 105 Helicopter Unit showered flower petals on the audience at Kartavya Path. Subsequently, Aavaahan, a band performance by over 100 women artists playing various types of percussion instruments, took place.
The parade commenced with Murmu taking the salute, commanded by Lieutenant General Bhavnish Kumar, the General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area. A total of 16 tableaux from states and Union territories, along with nine from central ministries and departments, rolled down Kartavya Path during the parade.
The states and Union territories represented in the parade included Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Ladakh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana.