New Delhi: India's military might and rich cultural diversity were on full display during the dazzling 68th Republic Day celebrations in the national capital which had Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the Chief Guest.
Light rains and overcast skies failed to dampen the enthusiasm of thousands of spectators who witnessed the nearly one-and-half-hour-long parade that marched down the majestic Rajpath, India's ceremonial boulevard, amid unprecedented security cover.
Mohamed bin Zayed: I am very delighted and honored to share Republic Day celebrations with the Indian people.? أخبار محمد بن زايد (@MBZNews) January 26, 2017
"UAE's participation in Republic Day celebrations reflects the depth of our ties which are based on mutual respect & common interests"? أخبار محمد بن زايد (@MBZNews) January 26, 2017
The Indian Army's missile firing capability T-90 'Bhishma' tank, Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP-2K, Mobile Autonomous Launcher of the BrahMos Missile System, Weapon Locating Raddar 'Swathi' and Akash Weapons System and Dhanush Gun System were among the main draw in the mechanised columns.
Tableaux from 17 states and Union Territories and six central ministries and departments showcased the varied historical, art and cultural heritage of the country. Goods and Services Tax (GST) was the theme of the tableau of Central Board of Excise and Customs.Also Read: Republic Day: Havildar Hangpan Dada Posthumously Awarded Ashok Chakra
The theme of IAF tableau was "Air Dominance Through Network Centric Operations" and it displayed the scaled down models of Su-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, AWACS, UAV, Apache and Communication Satellite.
As per tradition, after unfurling the National Flag, the National Anthem was played followed by a 21 gun salute.
The parade was commanded by Lt General Manoj Mukund Naravane, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area.
The marching contingents of Army included horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, the Mechanised Infantry Regiment, the Bihar Regiment, the 39 Gorkha Training Centre, 58 Gorkha Training Centre, the Madras Engineering Group and Centre and 103 Infantry Battalion.
The Navy contingent comprised 144 young sailors and it was led by Lieutenant Aparna Nair.
Tableaux from states, Union Territories and Union ministries presented the historical, art and cultural heritage of the country.
They showcased country's progress in different fields, particularly floats from Goa, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam and Jammu and Kashmir.Also Read: NSG Commandos, LCA Tejas Debut at Republic Day Parade
The splendid driving skills of 'Dare Devils'--the motorcycle display team of Corps of Military Police was a major attraction of the parade.
The 'Netra', an Airborne Early Warning and Control System aircraft also known as "Eye in the Sky" was one of the major attractions.
It was followed by the breathtaking 'Trishul' formation comprising three Su-30 MKIs.
The flypast concluded with another Su-30 MKI carrying out a 'Vertical Charlie' manoeuvre over the saluting dais. The ceremony culminated with the national anthem and release of balloons.
A massive ground-to-air security apparatus was put in place in the national capital turning the city into virtually an impregnable fortress. Snipers of National Security Guard were deployed at all high-rises along the parade route.
The arrangements were made to ensure an incident-free Republic Day celebrations and foolproof security. As part of the multi-layered security, around 60,000 security personnel were deployed across the city.
Watch the spectacular display of dare devil driving skills by Military Police Corps - #ShwetAshwa at 68th #RepublicDay parade pic.twitter.com/ikj03JVLft? PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2017
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