India showcased its powerful military punch and its rich cultural heritage at the 65th Republic Day parade yesterday.
It was the coldest Republic Day in a decade at a minimum of 9.9 degrees Celsius, forcing spectators to dress in layers of protective clothing.
Army tanks, a scaled down naval submarine, the air force fighter jet, the marching armed forces, the Border Security Force performing a series of manoeuvres on motorcycles, folk dances by enthusiastic students, all entertained the thousands of spectators.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh began the celebrations by paying homage to the unknown soldier. It was his 10th and last Republic Day parade in office as he has announced that he would step down after the next election.
After laying a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial at India Gate, a World War I monument, Singh headed back to the saluting base on the Rajpath boulevard for the colourful parade.
President Pranab Mukherjee, who took the salute, arrived in state accompanied by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The President’s bodyguard presented the national salute, the tricolour was unfurled and the national anthem was played.
Republic Day honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into force on January 26, 1950. India achieved independence from British rule on August 15, 1947 following the Indian independence movement noted for largely peaceful nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience led by the Indian National Congress.