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Monday, January 26, 2015

66th Indian Republic Day Celebrations Monday Jan 26,2015


India's military prowess and achievements in different fields, state-of-the-art defence platforms, its diverse cultural and social traditions was put on diplay at the 66th Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Monday.
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India’s military might on display and the equipment that was exhibited at Rajpath signifies a slow and steady shift in the country’s growing arsenal

Among the main attractions of the ceremonial parade were 25 colourful tableaux representing India's cultural and linguistic diversity as also signifying the vision of the future India as envisaged by the current dispensation
16 of the tableaux belonging to the states and the union territories represented the cultural and architectural wealth of the country, the remaining nine were from various central ministries and departments themed on 'Ma Ganga' to 'Yoga' among others.
Military might and ceremonial fanfare greet Obama as thousands brave the rain for Republic Day celebrations
Indian Border Security Force (BSF) motorcycle specialists perform during the Republic Day parade

Indian military vehicles and missile launching systems are displayed during the nation's Republic Day parade on Rajpath in New Delhi on January 26, 2015.
 
 
 
 

The camel contingent of the Indian Border Security Force march in full ceremonial uniform 
A float of the state of Maharashtra takes part in the colourful celebrations for Republic Day 
The float representing the state of Assam. Each state represented the local culture using traditional symbolism 



A massive mechanised lion made out of gear-tooth wheels, symbolic of the government's 'Make in India' policy or a mock-up of a high-speed bullet train drew cheers from the crowd as they rolled down the majestic avenue. Besides, the tableaux for 'Prime Minister Jan Dhan Yojana' helmed by the Department of Financial Services, the Ministry of Women and Child Development-led exhibit featuring live performances by women themed on 'Beti Bachaho, Beti Padhao' campaign also won many hearts.

With "Women's Empowerment" being the theme of this year's Republic Day parade, another attraction at the annual extravaganza was the contingents of all-women officers of the three Services marching for the first time on the Rajpath
Women officers of the Indian Navy marching during the Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: S. Subramanium
The Indian Air force women contingent march for the first time during the Republic Day parades
With ‘women’s empowerment’ being the theme of this year’s Republic Day parade, all-woman contingents of the three Services marched down Rajpath for the first time, displaying ‘nari shakti’.
The Indian Army showcased a tableau of the first women officers’ team to scale Mount Everest. Two women officers from the Army scaled the highest peak in 2005 with Major Ashwini A.S. Pawar becoming the first woman ‘Everester’ in the Army.
The Navy specifically focussed on the theme in its second tableau, titled “Bharatiya Nau Sena aur Nari Shakti”, which represented the four Navy women officers who participated in an ocean voyage from Goa to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil on board ‘Mhadei’.
While Captain Divya Ajith led the Army contingent, the Navy contingent was led by Lieutenant Commander Sandhya Chauhan and the Air Force contingent by Squadron Leader Sneha Shekhawat. Each of the contingents had 148 officers and cadets from the three Services.

Thousands of spectators gathered along the Rajpath and cheered in joy at the two-hour-long parade showcasing the country's 'unity in diversity' marched down in drizzle and overcast skies

US President Barack Obama was the Chief Guest of the event becoming the first American President to attend India's parade.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Barack Obama
at the 66th Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: S. Subramanium

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L-R), U.S. President Barack Obama, India's President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari attend the Republic Day parade in New Delhi January 26, 2015
In a departure from tradition for the Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade, US President Barack Obama arrived in his own highly-secured bomb-proof vehicle, 'The Beast,'

New Delhi was wrapped in unprecedented security blanket as thousands of security personnel kept a hawk's vigil in and around the Rajpath area. Obama was seated next to Modi, donning a multicoloured 'bandhej safa'(turban), as the two leaders chatted and enjoyed the annual spectacle. A smiling US President was seen nodding in appreciation on several occasions.

Alongside Obama, the first US President to attend the celebrations, the ceremonial parade was watched by his wife Michelle, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the country's top political and military brass, besides the diplomatic community.

A highlight of this year's parade was the display for the first time of the recently acquired long-range maritime surveillance and anti-submarine P-8I aircraft and the long-range advanced MiG-29K fighter plane. 

The synchronised military and police contingents led by General Officer Commanding (Delhi), Lt General Subroto Mitra marched proudly to the lilting tunes of bands through Rajpath where President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Pranab Mukherjee took the salute from a specially erected dais

Before the commencement of the parade, Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh and Major Mukund Varadarajan were posthumously conferred the highest peacetime gallantry award Ashok Chakra by the President. Major Varadarajan and Naik Neeraj Kumar laid down their lives while battling groups of militants in separate operations in Shopian and Kupwara districts of Kashmir respectively.


US President Barack Obama ‘breaks’ American, Indian traditions at R-Day function

US President Barack Obama waves as he, along with First Lady Michelle Obama, President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi leave after the 66th Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi on Monday.


US President Barack Obama on Monday broke the Secret Service’s sacred security protocol by remaining in the open for more than two hours when he graced the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi as the Chief Guest.
He also departed from the tradition of accompanying the President of India and preferred to be driven to the venue in his own multi—layered bulletproof car ‘The Beast’.
Obama spent over two hours in the open as the Chief Guest of India’s 66th Republic Day celebrations.
The security guidelines of Secret Service, the exclusive agency responsible for an American President’s security, mandate that he does not spend more than 45 minutes at any open-air venue.
According to American media reports, the US President has never been on an outdoor event for more than 40 minutes.
 

Five firsts at Republic Day 2015

1)All-women contingents of the Army, Navy and Air Force march through Rajpath for the first time

2)The first time that a U.S. President is Chief Guest for the parade

3)The President and the chief guest arrived in different motorcades, a departure from the standard practice of arriving together

4)CRPF shows off Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) used in anti-Naxal operations

5)The long-range advanced MiG-29K fighter jet on display    


 


Google Doodle on India's Republic Day Celebrations
To mark India's 66th Republic Day, Google continued with its tradition of posting a doodle on its India home page. This year's Google India's Republic Day doodle features a tableau showcasing India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan, two New Delhi landmarks that are symbolic of the Republic of India.
This is the fifth India Republic Day doodle that Google has posted on its India home page.

In 2014, the doodle featured Border Security Force daredevils motorcycle riders in saffron, white, and green, performing one of their famed balancing acts.

On India's 64th Republic Day in 2013, India's national animal the tiger glared at you from Google India's home page and the symbol of the Republic, India Gate, decorated the bottom left corner of Google's Republic Day India doodle. The Google logo appeared as stripes on the tiger's body. Lotus, India's national flower, also appeared in the jungle-like motif surrounding the tiger. 

In 2012 the Google doodle, commemorating India's 63rd Republic showed National Bravery Award winning children riding on the backs of decorated elephants, quite like the actual parade on Rajpath, New Delhi. The Google logo appeared in rangoli-style in the background.
 

In 2010, the India Republic Day Google doodle depicted Republic Day action in the air with fighter aircraft re-creating the Tricolour in the sky with coloured smoke trails


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