India marked its 76th Republic Day on Sunday with a vibrant parade showcasing both its military strength and cultural diversity in the heart of the capital. The President of Indonesia was the guest of honor at the event.
On a chilly Sunday morning, tens of thousands of spectators gathered along the route to witness the parade, celebrating the adoption of India’s Constitution on January 26, 1950, nearly three years after the country gained independence from British rule.
The parade featured soldiers from India’s military and paramilitary forces, accompanied by their bands, while the nation’s leaders and other dignitaries watched. The floats displayed various aspects of India’s rich cultural heritage, including one representing the Maha Kumbh festival, the world’s largest religious gathering, which is currently taking place.
The procession was held on Rajpath Avenue, a road constructed during British colonial rule, now lined with expansive lawns, canals, and trees. In 2022, the avenue was redeveloped and renamed Kartavayapath, or Boulevard of Duty, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who was the chief guest at the event, attended alongside India’s president and prime minister. For the first time, a 342-member band and marching contingent from the Indonesian National Armed Forces participated in the parade, marking the first time troops from an ASEAN country have joined a foreign Republic Day celebration.
India has a tradition of inviting foreign leaders to witness the Republic Day celebrations. Last year, French President Emmanuel Macron was the guest of honor, while former U.S. President Barack Obama attended in 2015. In 2018, ten Southeast Asian leaders were present for the event.
Sukarno, Indonesia’s first president and a key figure in the country’s independence movement, was the chief guest at India’s inaugural Republic Day celebration in 1950.
The 90-minute parade featured thousands of men and women in vibrant costumes performing marches, traditional dances, and motorbike stunts. The parade also highlighted India’s domestically-produced defense equipment and military systems, including tanks, infantry combat vehicles, radar, and missile systems.
Around 5,000 performers, carrying traditional props like spears, swords, and drums, showcased over 40 dance forms from across India in a vibrant cultural display that lasted about 10 minutes. The parade concluded with a fly-past by Indian Air Force jets, including Rafale fighter planes, transport aircraft, and helicopters.
The entire event was broadcast live on television. Similar Republic Day parades were held in state capitals and other cities across India, all under tight security measures.
In Srinagar, the main city of the disputed Kashmir region, armed police and soldiers were deployed for patrols as local officials marked the occasion. Despite the winter chill, hundreds of people gathered to watch the parade, with additional security in place, including vehicle checks and pedestrian frisking.
India and Pakistan both administer parts of Kashmir but claim the entire region. Since 1989, militants in the Indian-administered area of Kashmir have been engaged in an ongoing conflict with New Delhi’s rule.
