India Celebrates 77th Republic Day with Grand Parade and Military Display

New Delhi. India grandly celebrated its 77th Republic Day on Monday.

Following the hoisting of the national flag by President Droupadi Murmu at the main ceremony held at Kartavya Path in New Delhi, a 21-gun salute was presented along with the national anthem. On the same occasion, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was honored with India's highest peacetime gallantry award, the 'Ashok Chakra'.

This year's ceremony saw the participation of two chief guests for the first time in history. European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen observed the parade as special guests. During the 90-minute parade, 30 attractive tableaux from various states and ministries were displayed, showcasing India's diversity and culture.

The main attraction of the parade was the display of the Indian Armed Forces' strength. Twenty-nine aircraft from the Air Force, including Rafale, Jaguar, MiG-29, and Sukhoi, performed thrilling maneuvers and formations named Sindoor, Vajrang, Arjan, and Prahar in the sky. Furthermore, the BrahMos and Akash missile systems, Suryaast rocket launcher, and state-of-the-art weapon systems used in Operation Sindoor were also exhibited.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Home Minister Amit Shah, and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi were among those present at the ceremony.