62nd Republic Day

A strong and resurgent India is celebrating its 62nd Republic Day today. The main parade will held at Rajpath in the capital which will showcase the country’s cultural diversity and military might.

Country’s military might, economic progress and its rich culture will be on show at the Republic day parade at the Rajpath in the national capital.

The Amar Jawan, the immortal soldier, is symbolised by a reversed rifle topped by a helmet. As per tradition, after unfurling of the National Flag, the National Anthem will be played. The President Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil will confer the Ashoka Chakra on Major Laishram Jyotin Singh (posthumous) of the Army Medical Corps. The parade will then commence and the President will take the salute.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will be the chief guest at the parade.

President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil will take salute of the marching contingents.

President will also present Gallantry awards to security personnel.
While the Indian Navy will display scaled down models of the aircraft carrier INS Viraat, Talwar kilo class submarine and the Mig-29K, the 4th Generation fighter jet inducted last year, the Indian Air Force tableau will focus on Network Centric Operations based on the AFNET, the state-of-the-art gigabyte digital information grid, also dedicated to the nation last year. However, the IAF will not hold any static-display of any of its aircrafts.

The parade ceremony will commence at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate where the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will lead the nation in paying homage to the martyrs by laying wreath. An eternal flame burns at the Amar Jawan Jyoti to commemorate the indomitable courage of our Armed Forces personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the motherland.

The marching contingents of paramilitary and other auxiliary civil forces will include contingents from the Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, Coast Guard, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Railway Protection Force, Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme.

Twenty-one of the 23 children selected for the National Bravery Award – 2010 will also participate in the parade. Two children have got the award posthumously. 686 children of different schools from Delhi and Regional Cultural Centres will present a fiesta of the varied folk and modern dances.

This year’s Chief Guest at the parade is president of Indonesia Dr. Haji Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono . The parade will be commanded by Major General Manvender Singh, General Officer Commanding Delhi area, The marching contingents of Army include the horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, Punjab Regiment, Grenadiers Regiment, Rajputana Rifles Regiment, Rajput Regiment, Sikh Light Infantry Regiment, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, 3 Gorkha Rifles and the Territorial Army. Another interesting feature of the Parade will be the Ex-Servicemen Marching Contingent led by 87-year-old Flying Officer MM Shukla, a veteran of the 2nd World War.

The Camel-mounted band of the BSF will be another major attraction. Tableaux from 23 states and Central Ministries and Departments will present the varied historical, architectural and cultural heritage of the country. They will also showcase country’s progress in different fields.

Dare Devils, the motorcycle display by the Army’s Corps of Signals, will perform breathtaking stunts the grand finale of the parade will be as usual a spectacular fly-past by the IAF, the Mi-25 attack helicopter participating for the first time.
62nd Republic Day