India celebrates Republic Day with grandeur

The state-of-the-art missile was successfully flight tested last November. The DRDO has also put on display for the first time the 150 kms range Prahaar tactical battlefield support missile and the Rustom-1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

The weaponry put on display by the Indian Army includes the T-72 tank, Carrier Mortar Tracked, SMERCH Multiple Launch Rocket System, Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket System, Full Width Mine Plough, NBC Water Purification Systems and Jammer Station VHF/UHF.

The Army´s Mechanized Columns concluded with a flypast by the Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv of the Army Aviation Corps.

The Indian Air Force did not make static display of any aircraft but its latest acquisition, the C-130-J Super Hercules tactical aircaft, made its debut at the Republic Day Parade, with three of the six aircraft acquired from the US participating in the flypast.

The Indian Navy´s tableau also glosses over its newly acquired capabilities, instead focusing on its longstanding, reliable capabilities.

Though the sniffing dogs were omnipresent at the Parade, forming part of the Delhi Police Bomb Disposal Squad and NSG securing the Rajpath, this year´s Parade gave them their due, with the dogs displaying their skills in a lotus formation and a grand salute by the leader sitting on a tableau of the Army´s Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC).

The parade ceremony commenced at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh paid homage to the martyrs by laying wreath.

An eternal flame burns at the Amar Jawan Jyoti to commemorate the indomitable courage of our Armed Forces personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the motherland.

The Amar Jawan, the immortal soldier, is symbolised by a reversed rifle topped by a helmet.

As per tradition, after unfurling of the National Flag, the National Anthem was played.

Thereafter President Pratibha Devisingh Patil posthumously confered the Ashok Chakra on Lieutenant Navdeep Singh of the Army Ordnance Corps / 15th Battalion,The Maratha Light Infantry.

The parade then commenced and the President will take the salute.

The parade was commanded by Lt. General Vijay Kumar Pillai, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area. Major General Rajbir Singh, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area was the parade Second-in-Command.

Tableaux from 23 states and Central Ministries and Departments presented the varied historical, architectural and cultural heritage of the country.

The state of West Bengal joined parade after 13 years, showcasing the university town of Shantiniketan, an international, educational and cultural institution and the living abode of the state's celebrated scholar Rabindranath Tagore

They will also showcase country's progress in different fields. Nineteen of the 24 children selected for the National Bravery Award - 2009 will also participate in the parade. Five children have got the award posthumously.

In the children's pageant section, 1,200 boys and girls drawn from Delhi´s two schools, - Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector-2, RK Puram and Government Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Hastsal, Delhi, besides regional cultural zones, - South Zone Cultural Centre, Thajavur, East Zone Cultural Centre, Kolkata and North Central Zone Cultural Centre, Madhya Pradesh presented dances and other programmes.

Janbaz, the motorcycle display by the Border Security Force was a major attraction of the parade.

It consisted of 154 riders on 30 motorcycles performing Bordermen Salute, Side Riding, Yoga, Janbaz-1, Ladder Double, Harmony, Exercise, Pyramid, Parallel Bar, Guldasta, Karvan and Flag March under the leadership of Inspector Amit Kumar.

They performed breathtaking stunts in a synchronised and synergetic display of mind, body and machine coordination.

The grand finale of the parade was a spectacular flypast by the IAF, with the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft participating in the Parade for the first time.

The flypast were led by a Vic formation of three Mi-35 helicopters, followed by the three Super Hercules again in a Vic formation.

Trailing them was a IL-78, flanked by two AN-32 and two Dornier, in a Big Boy formation.

Next in line will be the fighter jets, - five Jaguars followed by five MiG-29 will fly in Arrowhead formation.

The breathtaking Trishul formation comprising three Su-30 MKI flew over the Rajpath and once in front of the saluting dais, the Su-30MKI aircraft split upwards, making a Trishul in the sky.

The flypast will conclude with another Sukhoi Su-30 MKI carrying out a Vertical Charlie manoeuvre over the saluting dais.

The ceremony culminated with the National Anthem and release of balloons.

Meanwhile, amid tight and unprecedented security, the Republic Day parades passed off peacefully across the Kashmir Valley on Thursday even as all the separatist leaders had called for a complete shutdown appealing the people to observe it as a "Black Day ".

All the shops including business establishments, private institutions and petrol pumps remained closed while transport was completely off the roads.

The state government imposed an undeclared curfew, turning Srinagar into a fortress. Mobile service operators blocked services for a few hours. Vehicle movement was also restrictive, while most shops remained closed.

No major untoward incident was reported in the valley though some black flags were seen in Srinagar´s Old City areas in response to the separatist appeals to observe the Republic Day as a black day.

While there were no reports of any major incidents. a powerful bomb was exploded by suspected militants at the capital complex in Manipur's capital Imphal, however no one was hurt.