On the occasion of India’s 76th Republic Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended heartfelt greetings to the nation, emphasizing the importance of preserving the ideals of the Indian Constitution. In his message, PM Modi expressed his reverence for the founding fathers and mothers who contributed to the creation of the Constitution, underscoring how their vision continues to shape India’s journey toward democracy, dignity, and unity.“
Happy Republic Day. Today, we celebrate 75 glorious years of being a Republic. We bow to all the great women and men who made our Constitution and ensured that our journey is rooted in democracy, dignity, and unity. May this occasion strengthen our efforts towards preserving the ideals of our Constitution and working towards a stronger and prosperous India,” PM Modi shared in a post on X.
The Republic Day celebrations on Sunday marked a momentous occasion in India’s history, with the nation coming together to showcase its rich cultural diversity, military prowess, and unity in equality and development. This year’s celebrations were held at Kartavya Path in New Delhi, with President Droupadi Murmu leading the official event, joined by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, the Chief Guest for the ceremony.
A key highlight of this year’s celebrations was the participation of around 10,000 special guests from various walks of life, as part of the government’s initiative to increase public involvement, or Jan Bhagidari, in national events. These distinguished guests, considered the architects of a “Swarnim Bharat” (Golden India), included exemplary performers from different fields and individuals who have made significant use of government schemes for national development.
In a historic first, a tri-services tableau, representing the spirit of jointness and integration among India’s armed forces, took center stage. The theme, “Shashakt aur Surakshit Bharat” (Empowered and Secure India), depicted a Joint Operations Room, illustrating seamless networking and communication across the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The grand parade commenced at 10:30 AM and continued for approximately 90 minutes. The ceremony started with Prime Minister Modi visiting the National War Memorial to pay tribute to the brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country. This solemn moment included the laying of a wreath at the memorial, with the Prime Minister leading the nation in paying homage to the fallen heroes.
Following this, the Republic Day Parade began with President Droupadi Murmu taking the salute. The parade was commanded by Lieutenant General Bhavnish Kumar, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, with Major General Sumit Mehta serving as the Parade Second-in-Command. The President’s Bodyguard, the senior-most regiment of the Indian Army, escorted the President of India and her Indonesian counterpart to Kartavya Path in the ‘Traditional Buggy.’
As per tradition, the ceremony featured the unfurling of the National Flag followed by the National Anthem and a powerful 21-gun salute fired using the indigenous 105-mm Light Field Guns. This marked the official beginning of the Republic Day celebrations.
A significant portion of the event was dedicated to the recognition of gallantry awards, with the recipients of the Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra being honored. Among the notable awardees were Captain Yogendra Singh Yadav (retd), Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar (retd), and Lt Col Jas Ram Singh (retd). The Param Vir Chakra, the highest military honor, was conferred for exceptional bravery in the face of the enemy, while the Ashok Chakra was awarded for similar acts of valor in peacetime.
In an exciting display of international collaboration, the parade featured a marching contingent from Indonesia’s Military Academy, consisting of 152 members, along with 190 members in their military band. This display underscored the deepening military ties between India and Indonesia.
One of the most anticipated moments of the parade was the fly-past, a stunning air show featuring 40 aircraft and helicopters from the Indian Air Force. The spectacular display included 22 fighter jets, 11 transport aircraft, and seven helicopters, such as Rafale, Su-30, Jaguar, C-130, C-295, C-17, AWACS, Dornier-228, An-32, Apache, and Mi-17 helicopters, all soaring across the skies in a breathtaking formation.
The parade also witnessed several contingents marching in honor of India’s armed forces, with the 61 Cavalry leading the Mounted Column. This unit, the only serving active horsed cavalry regiment in the world, was followed by mechanized columns and marching contingents from various renowned regiments such as the Brigade of the Guards, The Jat Regiment, The Garhwal Rifles, The Mahar Regiment, The Jammu & Kashmir Rifles Regiment, and the Corps of Signals.
The grand finale of the celebrations was marked by the release of balloons adorned with banners featuring the official logo, commemorating 75 years since the Indian Constitution came into effect, and a final rendition of the National Anthem.
As the nation marked its 76th Republic Day, the celebrations served as a powerful reminder of the enduring values enshrined in the Indian Constitution and the continued efforts toward building a prosperous and secure India.
On this historic occasion of India’s 76th Republic Day, The Sampadak Express extends its heartfelt wishes to all citizens of the nation.
