Srinagar- India will showcase its military strength, development journey and cultural diversity at the 77th Republic Day celebrations to be held on Monday at Kartavya Path in the national capital.
The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will be the chief guests at this year’s parade. President Droupadi Murmu will lead the ceremony, which will begin at 10.30 am and last for about 90 minutes.
The celebrations will commence with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the National War Memorial, where he will lay a wreath to pay tributes to fallen soldiers.
The overarching theme of this year’s Republic Day is 150 years of the national song Vande Mataram. President Murmu, accompanied by the chief guests, is expected to arrive at Kartavya Path in a traditional buggy escorted by the President’s Bodyguard.
The parade will open with a cultural performance by around 100 artistes, reflecting the theme Vividata Mein Ekta or Unity in Diversity. This will be followed by a ceremonial showering of flower petals by four Mi-17 V5 helicopters flying in Dhwaj formation.
President Murmu will then take the salute as the parade formally begins. The parade will be led by Lt General Bhavnish Kumar, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area.
Gallantry award winners, including Param Vir Chakra recipients Subedar Major Yogendra Singh Yadav (Retd) and Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar, and Ashok Chakra awardees Maj Gen C A Pithawalia (Retd) and Colonel D Sreeram Kumar, will be part of the march.
A key highlight of this year’s parade will be the display of a new phased Army battle array, including an aerial component. The display will feature high mobility reconnaissance vehicles and India’s first indigenously designed armoured light specialist vehicle, supported by Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters and their armed variant Rudra.
The mechanised columns will include T-90 Bhisma tanks, Arjun main battle tanks, BMP-II infantry combat vehicles and the Nag missile system. Attack helicopters such as Apache AH-64E and Prachand light combat helicopters will provide aerial support.
A tri-services tableau showcasing replicas of major weapon systems deployed during Operation Sindoor is expected to be a major attraction. The tableau will depict India’s capability to respond decisively to national security challenges and will include representations of the BrahMos missile, Akash air defence system and S-400 missile shield. A glass-cased integrated operational centre illustrating the conduct of Operation Sindoor will also be displayed.
The Indian Navy and Indian Air Force contingents will participate in the parade with marching columns and tableaux highlighting indigenous platforms and operational strength. The Defence Research and Development Organisation will showcase its hypersonic glide missile LR-AShM.
A total of 30 tableaux, including those from 17 states and Union Territories and 13 central ministries and departments, will roll down Kartavya Path, reflecting India’s cultural heritage and developmental progress.
The celebrations will conclude with a grand fly-past involving 29 aircraft, including fighter jets, transport aircraft and helicopters, making it one of the most anticipated segments of the Republic Day parade.
