India Showcases Diversity, Military Might On 67th Republic Day

India’s military prowess and the country’s diverse cultural heritage were on display at the 67th Republic Day parade in the heart of New Delhi today where visiting French President Francois Hollande was the chief guest.

For the first time in the history of the parade, a group of foreign soldiers marched down Rajpath – the majestic avenue connecting India Gate with the Presidential palace – shoulder to shoulder with the Indian troops – the French contingent, comprising 56 personnel from the 35th Infantry Regiment of the 7th Armoured Brigade.

The celebrations began with Prime Minister Narendra Modi driving to the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial earlier today. Hen then drove up to the saluting base to receive President Pranab Mukherjee and President Francois Hollande.

The President’s Bodyguard presented the national salute, the tricolour was unfurled and the national anthem was played.

Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami, who killed 10 terrorists in 11 days before being martyred in Jammu and Kashmir, was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, the country’s highest peacetime gallantry award, by the President.

There was much that was different at the parade this year. The marching contingents were fewer, as were the massed bands.

Then, instead of a marching continent of ex-servicemen, there was a tableau dedicated to them in the first part of the parade, an army dog squad with handlers made an appearance after 26 years, and the camel-mounted troopers of the Border Security Force made up the rear element of the parade’s military element.

In another break from tradition, the young recipients of the National Awards for Bravery came up towards the end, followed by the children’s pageant, a daredevil motorcycle display by the Corps of Signals, and a grand flypast by fighters, heavy-lift transports and helicopters of the Indian Air Force.

Vice President Hamid Ansari, the three service chiefs, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, cabinet ministers, a host of dignitaries and a group of women achievers, seated in a special enclosure, witnessed the hour-and-half long parade.

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