National: India marks its 76th Republic Day today, January 26, celebrating 75 years as a sovereign democratic republic.
The Kartavya Path in New Delhi will host the grand ceremonial parade, which will display the nation’s military prowess and cultural diversity.
President Droupadi Murmu will lead the celebrations, with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto as the chief guest.
Among the special invitees for this momentous occasion are members of the Paralympic contingent, sarpanches from top-performing villages, handloom artisans, and forest and wildlife conservation workers.
President Murmu and her Indonesian counterpart will make their arrival in a traditional buggy, a practice revived last year after four decades. The presence of a marching and band contingent from Indonesia further highlights the strong ties between the two nations.
Subianto is the fourth Indonesian president to attend India’s Republic Day celebrations, following in the footsteps of Sukarno, Indonesia’s first president and chief guest at India’s inaugural Republic Day in 1950.
The parade will feature 16 tableaux from states and Union Territories and 15 from central ministries and organizations, reflecting this year’s theme, ‘Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas’. Showcasing India’s advancements in defense technology, cutting-edge platforms like BrahMos, Pinaka, Akash, and the DRDO’s tactical missile ‘Pralay’ will make their debut.
Other highlights include the T-90 ‘Bhishma’ tanks, the Nag Missile System, and the multi-barrel rocket launcher ‘Agnibaan’. These displays underscore India’s progress in both heritage and development as the nation commemorates the platinum jubilee of the Constitution’s enactment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in paying tribute to its martyrs at the National War Memorial before the parade commences with a National Salute.
The 90-minute event will reflect India’s journey as a republic through a blend of military strength and cultural heritage.
A unique feature this year includes 300 cultural artists performing ‘Sare Jahan Se Achha’ on traditional instruments, adding vibrancy to the parade.
Prominent heroes of the nation, including Param Vir Chakra awardees Subedar Major & Honorary Captain Yogendra Singh Yadav (Retd.) and Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar (Retd.), along with Ashok Chakra awardee Lt Col Jas Ram Singh (Retd.), will also participate in the celebrations.
Additionally, a tri-services tableau, with the theme ‘Shashakt aur Surakshit Bharat’, will display synchronized operations on land, water, and air, featuring indigenous assets like the Arjun battle tank and Tejas fighter aircraft.
The parade will conclude with a cultural performance titled ‘Jayati Jaya Mama Bharatam’, involving over 5,000 artists performing 45 traditional dance forms from across the country.
For the first time, the performance will extend along the entire Kartavya Path to provide all attendees with an immersive experience.
Capt Ashish Rana, leading a contingent of daredevils from the Corps of Signals, will add a thrilling finale to this grand celebration of India’s democratic and cultural identity.