India celebrates Republic Day with grand parade at Kartavya Path
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The Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path concluded with the national anthem as President Droupadi Murmu and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, the chief guest, departed in the traditional buggy.
This year’s parade highlighted India’s cultural diversity and military prowess. President Murmu was escorted by the President’s Bodyguard, the seniormost regiment of the Indian Army, as she left with the chief guest in the buggy.
In a symbolic gesture, hundreds of tri-colour balloons were released, marking 75 years of the Indian Constitution. India commemorated the platinum jubilee of the Constitution’s enactment on Sunday, adding extra significance to this Republic Day. The Constitution, adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, came into effect on January 26, 1950.
The President hoisted the national flag at Kartavya Path, assisted by Indian Navy Officer Lieutenant Shubham Kumar and Lt Yogita Saini. The flag hoisting was followed by the national anthem, accompanied by a resounding 21-gun salute fired from 105 mm Light Field Guns, an indigenous weapon system, placed along the historic Kartavya Path. The ceremonial battery of the 172 Field Regiment presented the gun salute.
Nearly 10,000 special invitees, including VVIP dignitaries, members of the Paralympic team, sarpanches from high-performing villages, handloom weavers, and forest and wildlife conservation workers, were present at the 76th Republic Day Parade.
Marching and band contingents from Indonesia were also part of the parade. The President and her Indonesian counterpart arrived at Kartavya Path escorted by the President’s Bodyguard, the oldest regiment of the Indian Army, in a traditional buggy. This ceremonial practice was reintroduced in 2024 after a 40-year hiatus, the Ministry of Defence noted.
This is the fourth time an Indonesian president has attended the event. Notably, Indonesia’s first president, Sukarno, was the chief guest at India’s inaugural Republic Day celebrations in 1950. While the focus of this year’s celebrations is on 75 years of the adoption of the Constitution, the parade’s tableaux theme is 'Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas.'
A total of 16 tableaux representing various states and Union Territories, along with 15 from central ministries and organisations, proceeded down Kartavya Path. For the first time, defence platforms such as BrahMos, Pinaka, Akash, the Army’s Battle Surveillance System ‘Sanjay,’ and DRDO’s tactical missile ‘Pralay’ made their debut.
Additionally, the parade featured T-90 'Bhishma' tanks, BMP-II infantry vehicles, the Nag Missile System, and multi-barrel rocket launchers like ‘Agnibaan,’ alongside the light specialist vehicle 'Bajrang.' Highlighting the theme, India’s tableaux symbolised the confluence of heritage (‘virasat’) and progress (‘vikas’), celebrating the platinum jubilee of the Constitution’s enactment.
Adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, the Indian Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to martyrs at the National War Memorial before the parade.
The parade commenced with the National Salute and lasted 90 minutes, reflecting India’s cultural and developmental journey. Cultural artistes from across the country performed ‘Sare Jahan Se Achha’ on traditional instruments, as per the Defence Ministry. The parade was commanded by Lt Gen Bhavnish Kumar, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, with Maj Gen Sumit Mehta, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area, as the second-in-command.
Decorated war heroes Subedar Major & Honorary Captain Yogendra Singh Yadav (retd) and Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar (retd), both recipients of the Param Vir Chakra for bravery during the Kargil war, joined the parade. Ashok Chakra awardee Lt Col Jas Ram Singh (retd) also participated. A flypast featuring 40 Indian Air Force aircraft and three Dornier planes from the Coast Guard added to the spectacle.
For the first time, the parade included a tri-services tableau showcasing a synchronised battlefield operation on land, water, and air, featuring the Arjun battle tank, Tejas fighter jet, and advanced light helicopter. The theme for this tableau was ‘Shashakt aur Surakshit Bharat’ (Strong and Secure India).
The DRDO presented a tableau titled 'Raksha Kavach — multi-layer protection against multi-domain threats.' The Indian Army contributed a mounted column, eight mechanised units, and six marching contingents, with the 61 Cavalry representing the mounted column.
Around 5,000 artistes performed 45 traditional dance forms in a cultural presentation titled Jayati Jaya Mama Bharatam. For the first time, the performance spanned the entire Kartavya Path, allowing all guests a uniform viewing experience. Capt Ashish Rana led a daredevil contingent from the Corps of Signals, with Capt Dimple Singh Bhati as the second-in-command, concluding the ceremonial line-up.
(With PTI Inputs)