India celebrates 74th Republic Day, check out the main highlights of the R-Day parade

President Droupadi Murmu arrived at the venue accompanied by Egypt’s President and the Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and flagged off the grand parade.

A contingent of Egyptian Armed Forces with 144 soldiers was the first to march on the iconic Kartavya Path.

One of the top highlights of today’s parade was an all-women contingent of the Central Reserve Police Force.

The Naval contingent was led by a woman officer and featured three women in all, and six Agniveers -- soldiers in the first batch of the new armed forces recruitment scheme.

This year, foreign-made (Russian) tanks did not roll on Kartavya Path. Keeping with the motto of Atmanirbhar Bharat, indigenous Arjun tanks, and other weapon systems made in India, including the Akash missile system, were on display.

A total of 23 tableaux, 17 from states and union territories, and 6 from various government ministries portrayed India's cultural heritage, economic progress, and national security.

One of the biggest attractions of the parade—the awe-inspiring motorcycle display by the Corps of Signals' Dare Devils team—thrilled the audience with several formations, including a yoga display.

Eleven children, who received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar for outstanding achievement in the fields of bravery, art and culture, sports, innovation and social service also took part in the parade.

 

The flypast by the aircraft of the three forces that marks the grand finale of the parade witnessed the participation of 45 aircraft, including vintage aircraft to the most modern jets in service in the Indian Air Force.

The new Rafale fighter aircraft performed the concluding Vertical Charlie manoeuvre in the air show.

This wasn’t the first time Rafale participated in the parade. But in the last two years, this was the first time a quarter of the fleet - nine aircraft - performed the flypast.

Invites to witness the Republic Day parade from prominent spots in the galleries were sent to workers involved in the construction of the Central Vista, Kartavya Path, New Parliament Building, milk, vegetable vendors and street vendors.