India celebrated its 76th Republic Day on Sunday with a colorful parade showcasing its military and cultural diversity on a boulevard in the center of the country’s capital. The Indonesian President was the guest of honour.
Thousands braved a chilly Sunday morning to watch the long parade to mark the anniversary of the official adoption of the Constitution of India on January 26, 1950, nearly three years after independence from British colonial rule.
Soldiers of India’s military and paramilitary forces, accompanied by their bands, marched as did the country’s leaders and other guests. Various tableaux showcased the cultural diversity of India with the Maha-Kumbh Mahotsav, the ongoing large-scale Hindu festival billed as the world’s largest religious gathering.
The parade took place on Rajpath Avenue, built by India’s former British rulers and lined by expansive lawns, canals and rows of trees. The avenue was redeveloped as part of the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence and renamed Kartavapath, or Boulevard of Duty, in 2022.
Visiting Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto attended the event as the chief guest and was graced by the President and Prime Minister of India. A 342-member band and marching contingent from the Indonesian National Armed Forces joined the parade, marking the first time troops from an ASEAN country have joined any foreign parade.
India traditionally invites foreign leaders to witness the spectacle. French President Emmanuel Macron was honored last year and so was US President Barack Obama in 2015. Ten Southeast Asian leaders witnessed the parade in 2018.
Sukarno, the first President of Indonesia and leader of the country’s independence struggle, was the chief guest at what was India’s first Republic Day celebration in 1950.
Thousands of men and women in colorful costumes marched, danced traditional dances and pulled motorbike stunts during the 90-minute parade. Hence India’s domestically manufactured defense equipment and military systems, including tanks, infantry combat vehicles, radar systems and missile systems, were showcased.
Some 5,000 artists, from different parts of India carrying traditional props such as spears, swords and drums, performed more than 40 dance forms in a cultural display that lasted for about 10 minutes. The parade ended with a fly past by Air Force fighters, including Rafale jets, transport planes and helicopters.
The parade was broadcast live by television networks. Republic Day parades therefore took place in state capitals and other cities of India amid massive security arrangements.
In Srinagar, the main city of disputed Kashmir, armed police and soldiers patrolled as regional authorities celebrated Republic Day. Hundreds braved the winter cold to watch the parade amid extra security, with police and soldiers checking vehicles and watching pedestrians.
India and Pakistan each own part of Kashmir, but both claim the region. Militants in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir have been fighting New Delhi’s regime since 1989.