Nation celebrates 73rd Republic Day, to showcase military might and cultural diversity in grand parade

The Nation is celebrating 73rd Republic Day today. The main function will be held at Rajpath in the National Capital. The celebrations this year are special as Republic Day falls in the 75th year of Independence, being celebrated as 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' across the country. To mark the occasion, the Ministry of Defence has conceptualized a series of new events during the main parade on Rajpath.

Special arrangements have been made to give an opportunity to those segments of society which usually do not get to watch the parade. Some sections of auto-rickshaw drivers, construction workers, safai karamcharis, and frontline health workers have been invited to watch the Republic Day Parade. Republic Day Parade 2022 will showcase India's military might and cultural diversity in a grand parade at Rajpath as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. This year the Parade began at 10.30 AM instead of scheduled time of 10 AM.

The parade which starts from Raisina hills and goes through Rajpath, India Gate to Red Fort would now only go up to the National Stadium while tableaux of States, Different Ministries, and Departments will proceed to Red Fort. The number of troops in marching contingents in the Republic Day parade has been reduced from 144 to 96 to ensure social distancing in view of Covid-19. They will be seen marching in 12 rows and eight columns. Indian Army soldiers will be seen marching in different uniforms worn by the Army since 1950 to the present day at the Republic Day parade this year.

The Republic Day ceremony will commence with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the National War Memorial. He will lead the nation in paying solemn tributes to the fallen heroes by laying a wreath. The National Flag will be unfurled followed by National Anthem with a booming 21-gun salute. The Parade will commence with President Ram Nath Kovind taking the salute.

There will be a total of 16 marching contingents in the Republic Day Parade. Six from the Army, one each from Navy and Air Force, four Central Armed Police Forces, one from Delhi Police, two from National Cadet Corps, and one National Service Scheme, NSS. There will be 12 Tableaux from different Sates, Union Territories, and 9 from Ministries and Departments.

Biodiversity of Maharashtra, Symbols of Goan Heritage, the cradle of traditional handicrafts of Karnataka, Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Meghalaya's 50 years of Statehood, Punjab's contribution in the freedom struggle, Jal Jeevan Mission, UDAN, National Education Policy, 150 years of Shri Aurobindo, Subhas @ 125 are some of the themes of tableaux.

480 dancers selected through Vande Bharatam dance competition will perform today at Rajpath. Flypast which is the most awaited segment will have 75 aircraft and helicopters of Indian Air Force. Vintage, as well as modern aircraft like Rafale, Sukhoi, Jaguar, MI 17, Sarang, Apache, and Dakota, will display different formations including Rahat, Eklavya, Trishul, Tiranga, Vijay, and Amrit. The Ceremony will culminate with the National Anthem and release of Tricolour Balloons. Delhi Police has fortified areas in and around Rajpath with multi-layer security cover and has installed a Facial Recognition System and over three hundred CCTV cameras.

Delhi Police has made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth conduct of Republic Day Parade at Rajpath. Over twenty-seven thousand police personnel are deployed in the national capital for the Republic Day celebrations. Along with Delhi Police teams, 200 teams of other agencies have been deployed for anti-sabotage checks. Armed battalions are deployed and drones and other technologies are being used.