New Delhi: India's military prowess and multi-hued images of the country's rich cultural diversity and achievement were on display at the majestic Rajpath today during the Delhi Republic Day parade which was attended by French President Francois Hollande as the chief guest.
Read:Five firsts that marked the 67th Republic Day celebration
Thousands of people flanking both sides of the imposing Rajpath, India's ceremonial boulevard facing the seat of power Raisina Hills, braved the winter chill and cheered loudly as the marching contingents and tableux went past them.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with French President Francois Hollande and Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar watch the flypast during the Delhi Republic Day parade. (Photo: PTI)
The national capital, particularly the Central and New Delhi areas, were brought under unprecedented security blanket as thousands of personnel kept a hawk-eye vigil to thwart any untoward incident. There were intelligence inputs that terror groups may target some important installations in the city.
A French military contingent also marched down the Rajpath, a first by any foreign armed force. In 2009, an Indian contingent had also participated in France's annual Bastille Day parade.
Read: Five facts about Republic Day parade
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to the people on the occasion of Republic Day and paid tributes to the framers of the Constitution, especially BR Ambedkar.
Tributes to all great personalities who framed our Constitution. I salute Dr. Ambedkar for his efforts as Chairman of Drafting Committee.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 26, 2016 Here is a blow-by-blow account of the event:
9.45 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave President Mukherjee and Francois Hollande a warm welcome as they arrived at the main viewing gallery along Rajpath. Earlier, Hollande, who is on a three-day state visit, was received by Modi who introduced him to the three services chief -- Army, Air Force and Navy.
Modi greets people as he arrives for the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)
10.00 am: Alongside Hollande, the fifth French President to attend the celebrations, the parade was watched by Vice-President Hamid Ansari, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, BJP president Amit Shah and the country's top political and military brass, besides the diplomatic community.
President Pranab Mukherjee, French President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rajpath.
Minutes before the parade began, Modi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and the three service chiefs laid wreaths at 'Amar Jawan Jyoti', the war memorial at the India Gate where an eternal flame burns in memory of those who laid down their lives defending the frontiers of the nation.
The #RepublicDayParade March Past begins #RepublicDay pic.twitter.com/AHwXLlkGf2
— PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016 10.15 am: Before the start of the ceremonial parade, Mukherjee presented the Ashok Chakra (Posthumous), highest peacetime Gallantry award, to Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami of 9 Para (Special Force) for his bravery in fighting with terrorists on the intervening night of September 2/3 last year in Haphruda forest at Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. The award was received by his wife Bhavna Goswami.
Read: Braveheart honoured posthumously for killing 10 terrorists in 10 days
President Pranab Mukherjee presents the Ashok Chakra to Bhawana Goswami on behalf of her husband, Late Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami at the 67th Republic Day parade. (Photo: PTI)
#AshokChakra for 13625566W Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami #RepublicDay #RepublicDayParade pic.twitter.com/57OqvAHjPM
— PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016 The proud winners of highest gallantry awards follow the Parade Commander #RepublicDay #AshokChakra #ParamVirChakra pic.twitter.com/49LCzNBn4m
— PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016 10.20 am: A 76-member French Army contingent led by a French military band consisting of 48 musicians march on Rajpath as they present a ceremonial salute to the President of India.
Read: French troops become first foreign contingent to march down Rajpath on Republic Day
In a first, French soldiers march on Rajpath during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)
10.22 am: Apart from India's missile firing capability T-90 'Bhishma' tank, Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP II (Sarath), Mobile Autonomous Launcher of the BrahMos Missile System, Akash Weapon System, Smerch Launcher Vehicles, the highlights of the parade also included a canine squad.
The synchronised military and police contingents led by General Officer Commanding (Delhi), Lt General Rajan Ravindran marched proudly to the lilting tunes of the bands through Rajpath where Mukherjee, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, took the salute from a specially erected dais.
10.25 am: After a gap of 26 years, an Army dog squad drawn from the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) took part in the parade, along with their handlers, adding a special charm to the occasion.
Read: Canine soldiers make spectacular comeback, lustily cheered on
Army's dog squad march down Rajpath during the 67th Republic Day parade in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)
10.35 am: Another attraction was the colourful BSF Camel Regiment consisting of 56 camels. For the first time the parade saw an ex-servicemen tableau, displaying the role of veterans in nation building.
A 34-camel mounted band marched alongside the BSF camel regiment.
Union ministers and political leaders were among thousand of spectators who cheered at the military contingents, dance troupes performances and tableaux from various states during the Republic Day parade today at Rajpath.
Union Ministers Suresh Prabhu and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore took the lead in cheering the marching contingents of the Parachute Regiment and NCC girls.
10.45 am: Tableaux from 17 States and six Central Ministries and Departments, featuring varied historical, architectural and cultural heritage of the country, were among the major attractions at the parade. The parade of tableaux begins at Rajpath with Goa, followed by Gujarat and Sikkim.
The Tableau depicted some rare and exotic varieties along with Sidi community, settled in the Gir forest, performing their traditional dance number.
Gujarat Tableau (Photo: AP)
TV cameras focused on Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar -- who was sitting in the VIP enclosure along with President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande – when the Goa tableau crossed the enclosure. Parrikar was the former Goa Chief Minister.
10.50 am: Tableaux of Rajasthan showcases 'Hawa Mahal' not as a monument, but as a 'lively building'. Rajasthan was followed by Chandigarh, Tripura and Odisha.
Rajasthan tableau
10.55 am: The Bihar tableau beautifully highlights the Champaran movement. While Madhya Pradesh tableau gives a message of conservation of forests, Karnataka highlights coffee production.
Bihar Tableau (Photo: AP)
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad cheered the tableau from his state of Jammu and Kashmir, while Union ministers D V Sadananda Gowda and Ananth Kumar along with their family members clapped when the Karnataka tableau drove past Rajpath.
11.02 am: The tableau of Chhattisgarh depicts Khairagarh Music and Art University. Uttarakhand's tableau depicts the festival of Ramman based on the story of ‘Ramayana’ while Tamil Nadu showcases the Toda tribe of Nilgiri district.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi was seen cheering young artists from Odisha who performed the state's Sambalpuri folk dance.
Read: 23 vibrant tableaux on display at Republic Day parade
11.15 am: Similarly floats of Ministry of Communication and IT based on 'Digital India', the Ministry of Panchayat Raj float on 'Empowered Women and empowered Panchayat Raj and Society' and float of the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation on 'Swachh Bharat Mission' showcased some of the flagship programmes of the Government.
Digital India tableau
11.25 am: Folk dance from various states follow the display of tableaux from different states. Folks from Rajasthan depict the uniqueness and spirit of bravery through their dance ‘Dharti Dhora Ree'.
Twenty three of 25 children selected for the National Bravery Award 2015 also participated in the parade. Two children have got the award posthumously. In the children's pageant section, about 500 boys and girls drawn from five schools in Delhi and a group of school children from South Central Zone Cultural Centre performed colourful dances on Rajpath.
National Bravery Award winning children, at #RepublicDayParade pic.twitter.com/SIC44qDJ1j
— PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016 11.30 am: 'Dare Devils'- the motorcycle display team of Corps of Signals was a major attraction of the parade. They performed different stunts like 'Salute to President', 'Signal Rocket', 'Signal Fighter', 'Abhimanyu', 'Shradhanjali' and 'Human Pyramid', etc. on moving motor cycles.
Read: Army motorcyclists leave Republic Day parade audience spellbound
Motorcycle display team of Indian army's 'Corps of Signals', popularly known as 'Dare Devils', make a formation on a motorcycle as they roll down Rajpath. (Photo: PTI)
11.40 am: The grand finale of the parade was a spectacular flypast by the IAF. It started with the 'Chakra' formation, comprising three Mi-35 helicopters in 'Vic' formation, followed by the 'Hercules' formation comprising three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Trailing them was the 'Globe formation' comprising one C-17 Globemaster flanked by two Su-30s. Next, five Jaguars flew in Arrowhead formation. Then the breath-taking 'Trishul' formation comprised three Su-30 MKI.
The ‘Globe’ formation during the fly past.
The flypast concluded with another Su-30 MKI carrying out a 'Vertical Charlie' anoeuvre over the saluting dais.
11.40 am: The celebrations ended with the national anthem.
