India showcases indigenous military might on Republic Day
New Delhi, Jan 26 (EFE).- India celebrated its 74th Republic Day on Thursday with a grand display of indigenously developed weapons systems and soft prowess of its cultural diversity.
New Delhi’s iconic boulevard, known until last year as Rajpath and renamed Kartavya Path (meaning the path of duty in Hindi) to shed any remnants of the British colonial rule, was the stage for a spectacular parade, held without Covid-19 restrictions.
India’s President Droupadi Murmu, accompanied by her Egyptian counterpart and the chief guest at the event, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, led the traditional ceremony, which began with a march by hundreds of Egyptian Armed Forces officers.
India and Egypt are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations this year.
At a meeting on Wednesday, the Egyptian leader and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the need to combat cross-border terrorism and boost bilateral ties into a strategic partnership.
The parade continued with a display of colorful floats, representing different states of the country, accompanied by dances and cultural events.
Indigenous weapons were also displayed before thousands of enthusiastic spectators on a cold and foggy morning.
An all-women contingent of the Central Reserve Police Force marched at the parade for the first time.
In another first, a march by the Indian Navy was led by a female officer.
Before the parade, Modi paid tributes to martyrs at the National War Memorial, accompanied by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.
The air show, in which dozens of Indian Air Force planes participated, put the finishing touch to the celebrations.
The country of 1.4 billion inhabitants celebrates Republic Day every year on Jan.26 to mark the day when the Indian Constitution came into effect in 1950. EFE
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