This Republic Day will see an 87-year-old war veteran as a participant in the parade. War veteran, N.N. Shukla took part in the full-dress rehearsal on Sunday. He will lead the contingent of ex-servicemen.
The Republic Day parade full-dress rehearsal on Sunday saw armed forces and paramilitary forces marching to the tunes of bands and tableaux depicting the country’s culture and development passing through eight-kilometre route from Rajpath to Red Fort.
In the parade, led by General Officer Commanding (Delhi) Maj, Gen, Manvendra Singh, DRDO’s active phased array radar, ship-borne multi-function radar and naval underwater weapon system will also be on display for the first time.
The Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, Brahmos Launcher System, T-90 Bhishma tanks, multi-barrel rocket system “Pinaka”, Tactical Control Radar Reporter, NBC (Nuclear-Biological-Chemical) Recce Vehicle and Integrated Network Platform will also be displayed in the parade.
The tableaux will provide a kaleidoscopic view of the country’s vibrant culture. Rabindranath Tagore, Lord Buddha, Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandh Pandher, Tripura’s Kharchi festival, Punjab’s Mehandi ceremony and Bihar’s Maner Sherif will be on focus in the tableaux from the states.
The parade will start with four MIG-17s showering flower petals on the crowd and the first to walk in would be Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra award winners followed by mounted columns of 61 Cavalry and Army’s impressive weaponry.
The Army contingents will comprise personnel from Punjab Regiment, Rajputana Rifles, Rajput Regiment, Sikh Light Infantry, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and Gorkha Rifles.