Sun Jan 26 03:10:00 UTC 2025: ## India Celebrates Republic Day with Grand Military Display and Indonesian Guest of Honor
**New Delhi, India** – India celebrated its 76th Republic Day with a spectacular parade down Kartavya Path, featuring a grand display of military might and cultural performances. The theme for this year’s celebrations was “Swarnaim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas” (Golden India: Heritage and Development).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage at the National War Memorial before joining the parade, while President Droupadi Murmu and Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), the chief guest, arrived in a ceremonial carriage.
The parade showcased the strength of India’s armed forces, with a unified display from the Army, Navy, and Air Force for the first time. This included indigenous tanks like the Arjun, the Tejas fighter jet, and modern light helicopters, depicting a simulated battlefield scenario. The display highlighted the theme of a strong and secure India. Advanced weaponry, including the T-90 Bhishma tank, BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, and Pinaka multi-launcher rocket system, were also featured.
The Indonesian contingent, comprising a 352-member marching band, participated in the parade – a first for an Indonesian contingent in a foreign nation’s Republic Day celebrations. Other notable participants included contingents from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), including a 148-member all-women marching contingent, the Assam Rifles, and the Border Security Force (BSF). The parade also featured a large contingent of NCC and NSS cadets.
The Air Force’s flypast involved 40 aircraft, including Rafale, Sukhoi, Jaguar, and Apache helicopters, thrilling the spectators with their aerial maneuvers. DRDO displayed several indigenously developed systems, including the PraLay missile system, making its first public appearance. A cultural performance involving 5,000 artists also took place.
The event highlighted India’s strides in indigenous defence manufacturing and its strong relationship with Indonesia. The Republic Day celebrations were a resounding demonstration of India’s military prowess and cultural heritage.
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