As the sun prepared to hide behind the Raisina Hill, silhouettes of men astride horses appeared on top of the Hill. It was the Presidents Bodyguard strutting down to the Vijay Chowk flanking the Presidents limousine for Beating the Retreat ceremony.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday interacted with tableaux artists, tribal guests, National Cadet Corps cadets and National Service Scheme volunteers in Delhi in connection with the Republic Day celebrations.

A spectacular flypast by helicopters and fighters of the Indian Air Force marked the grand finale to the 69th Republic Day parade at the Rajpath on Friday.

Leaders of all 10 Asean countries have confirmed their participation as Guests of Honour at India's Republic Day celebrations to commemorate 25 years of New Delhi's close ties with the southeast Asian bloc.