New Delhi: The flag was hoisted in the presence of the honourable President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and other honourable dignitaries on the auspicious occasion of 72nd Republic Day on Tuesday in Rajpath, New Delhi.
Every year, Republic Day is celebrated in India on January 26 since 1950 to mark the establishment of the Indian Constitution which first came to effect on this very day. India was under British Colonial Rule for over two hundred long years and got its freedom on August 15, 1947, by the Indian Independence movement. Although India was free from the British Raj it didn't have any fixed constitution and at that period the laws were based on a modified version of the British established, Government of India Act 1935. Eventually after two weeks on August 29, 1947, with B R Ambedkar as the chairperson, a drafting committee was set up in order to draft the fixed constitution of India. And with a lot of hard work, the constitution was finally drafted and India was declared as the Sovereign Republic on January 26.
The significance of January 26 is that on that day in 1929, the Indian National Congress made the well known Declaration of Indian Independence (Purna Swaraj) as opposed to British rule. And though the Constitution came into force in 1950 with a democratic government system, it was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949. This completed the country's transition into becoming a sovereign republic.
The draft of the constitution was submitted to the Indian Constituent Assembly on 4 November 1947. Over the course of 166 days, which was spread over two years, the 308 members of the Assembly met in sessions that were open to the public and made some modifications. Finally, on January 24, 1950, the Assembly members signed two handwritten copies of the Constitution, one in English and one in Hindi. The Indian Constitution is the longest written constitution in the world. And two days later history was made. On that day began Dr Rajendra Prasad's first term of office as President of the Indian Union. The Constituent Assembly became the Parliament of India under the transitional provisions of the new Constitution.
On account of the prevailing coronavirus pandemic, this year we've witnessed some changes on some of the oldest traditions of the celebrations of Republic Day. Unlike the other years, this year there were limited visitors at the event, with limited tableaus displayed and participants in the parade. It was compulsory for the guests attending the parade in Rajpath to go through advisory Covid 19 protocols including wearing masks, sanitization, and temperature check.
The prime attractions were Rafale fly-past, the Bangladesh foreign contingent, and the first woman Indian fighter pilot. There was a total of 32 tableaux displayed— 17 from states and UTs, nine from ministries, and six from the defence arm, including of IAF, Navy, Indian Naval Coast Guard, two from the DRDO, and one from Border Roads Organization (BRO). But the spirit of this auspicious day has always remained high. There was no chief guest this year and the route of the parade was shortened to 3.5km which was just till the end of India Gate rather than Red Fort (8.5km).
21 Gun Salute presented by Ceremonial Battery of 223 Field Regiment following the unfurling of the national flag.
Flight Lieutenant Swati Rathore: First woman pilot to lead flypast on Republic Day
The main battle tank of the Indian Army, T- 90 Bhishma, which is commanded by Captain Karanveer Singh Bhangu of 54 Armoured Regiment goes past the saluting dais
Pinaka Multi Launcher Rocket System of 841 Rocket Regiment(Pinaka)being led by Capt Vibhor Gulati
The marching contingent Garhwal Rifles is led by Captain Rajpoot Saurabh Singh of 17th Battalion
Captain Preeti Choudhary of 140 Air Defence Regiment (Self Propelled) leads upgraded Schilka Weapon system.
Flt Lt Bhawna Kanth, one of the first three female fighter pilots of the country, is part of the Indian Air Force tableau at the Republic Day parade
India displays military might, cultural heritage at R-Day parade
Indian Navy's tableau with the theme of 'Swarnim Vijay Varsh' being displayed at Republic Day parade
The Camel contingent of the Border Security Force under the command of Deputy Commandant Ghanshyam Singh, at Rajpath on Republic Day
A contingent of the National Security Guard march down Rajpath
DRDO contingent this year consists of two Tableaus: Light Combat Aircraft-Navy - Take off from INS Vikramaditya and Anti-Tank Guided Missiles.
NCC Girls marching contingent led by Senior Under Officer Samruddhi Harshal Sant of NCC Directorate, Maharashtra
The display of cultural tableaux begins at #RepublicDay parade, with Ladakh leading. It's the first-ever tableau of the UT.The display of cultural tableaux begins at Republic Day parade, with Ladakh leading. It's the first-ever tableau of the UT.
A replica of the Sun Temple at Modhera displayed on the Gujarat tableau
Punjab tableau showcases the glory of 9th Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur
Tableau of Uttar Pradesh displaying Ram Mandir.
The tableau of Department of Biotechnology depicts the process of Covid-19 Vaccine development through various processes.
One Rafale with 2 Jaguar Deep penetration strike aircraft and 2 MiG-29 Air Superiority Fighters, in 'Eklavya' formation are the next to fly past, at a height of 300m & speed of 780 Km/h.
The 'Trinetra' formation comprising of three Su-30MKIs - the three aircraft split outwards and upwards, forming a 'Trishul in the Sky'.
Republic Day parade culminates with a single Rafale aircraft flying at a speed of 900km/hr carrying out a 'Vertical Charlie'.
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