India set to celebrate 73rd Republic Day: Many firsts during R-Day parade
New Delhi : India will showcase its military might, cultural diversity and varied unique initiatives during the Republic Day parade as President Ram Nath Kovind will be leading the nation on the occasion of 73rd Republic Day.
The celebrations this year are special as India is in the 75th year of Independence - being celebrated as 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav'.
A series of new events have been planned by the Ministry of Defense.
The government had said that the Republic Day celebrations will now be celebrated for a week - between January 23 and 30 - every year. The celebrations now start on January 23, the birth anniversary of great freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and end on January 30 - observed as Martyrs' Day.
According to the Ministry of Defence, for the first time, an Indian Air Force (IAF) will show grand flypast by 75 aircraft or helicopters.
A drone show by 1,000 indigenously developed drones has been planned for the 'Beating the Retreat' ceremony, along with projection mapping will be shown for the first time.
In another first, 480 dancers will perform during the cultural programme at the parade have been selected through a nationwide Vande Bharatam dance competition.
Amid cold and foggy weather, the parade at Rajpath will start at 10:30 am, instead of 10 am for better visibility of the event.
Meanwhile, only double vaccinated people are allowed to attend the event.
To watch the Republic Day Parade and at the 'Beating the Retreat' ceremony some sections of auto-rickshaw drivers, construction workers, safai karamcharis, and frontline health workers will be invited.
