India is celebrating its 70th Republic Day with Rajpath coming alive by showcasing military might and traditions coupled with the latest initiatives and achievements. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is the chief guest of the Republic Day Parade at the historic Rajpath, the principal promenade of New Delhi.
Reports claim that one of the reasons Ramaphosa was invited was due to Mahatma Gandhi's close association with South Africa.
The parade, which was themed 'Mohan se Mahatma' brought out tableaux honouring many incidents of Mahatma's Gandhi's life.
The celebrations come just a few months away from the Lok Sabha elections which will test the strength of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the hold the Opposition parties have in the country.
National Bravery Award controversy surrounds Republic Day celebrationsTwo weeks earlier, reports suggested that the 20 children picked by Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) for the National Bravery Awards will not be able to attend after the centre's decision to distance itself from the NGO.
The Delhi High Court ordered a probe to look into the finances of the ICCW. Due to allegations of organisation's 'financial integrity', the Centre decided to not go ahead with it's picks but made a list of candidates of its own.
26 children were conferred with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puruskar 2019 and also got to participate in the parade.
#republicdayindia 26 children including 6 girls and 20 boys have been honoured with Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puruskar 2019 pic.twitter.com/8xxrTEM2OX
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2019
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to be the chief guest during the G20 summit held in Buenos Aires in Argentia last year.
This invitation was extended after speculations were rife that the United States President Donald Trump had turned down the invitation first.
Woman leads all-men contingent for the first timeLieutenant Bhavana Kasturi leads Army Service Corps Contingent down the Rajpath. This is the first time a woman has lead an all-men army contingent in the Republic Day Parade in Indian History.
Lieutenant Bhavana Kasturi led #Army Service Corps Contingent marches down the #Rajpath#republicdayindia #RepublicDay2019 pic.twitter.com/udwYZBynPV
— PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2019
They last thing the enemy sees is a flash of light with a boom !! Bear witness to the magnificence of these beasts of a T 90 Bhishma tanks #republicdayindia #RepublicDay2019 pic.twitter.com/eYCtC5Zflj
— PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2019
First indigenously developed air defence system of India, the Akash weapons system; can carry out surveillance of airspace upto 150 kms and can effectively engage hostile aerial platforms upto 25 kms#republicdayindia #RepublicDay2019 pic.twitter.com/G4M6gbJZ5Y
— PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2019
#republicdayindia Tableau of Karnataka is based on the 39th session of the Indian National Congress held in Belagavi in 1924, which was presided over by Mahatma Gandhi pic.twitter.com/tWsztHczoY
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2019
#republicdayindia : Tableau of Punjab is based on the theme of Jallianwala Bagh massacre pic.twitter.com/qGyOkInRGc
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2019
#RepublicDay2019 : Tableaux of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Maharashtra and Sikkim pic.twitter.com/fumDqB7xQl
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2019
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Amr Jawan Jyothi on Saturday morning to pay his respects to the fallen martyrs of the country.
PM @narendramodi pays his tributes at Amar Jawan Jyoti before leaving for Rajpath#republicdayindia #RepublicDay2019 pic.twitter.com/07Di6FK3hB
— PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2019
He was received by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the venue.
PM Shri @narendramodi paying homage at the Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate, on the occasion of the 70th Republic Day Parade 2019 in New Delhi. #RepublicDayIndia pic.twitter.com/T7qRxemywC
— BJP (@BJP4India) January 26, 2019
