Pomp and pageantry as India celebrates 65th Republic Day
Pomp, pageantry and patriotic fervour were in the air, as the Indian Republic celebrated its 65th Republic Day across the country with flag hoisting ceremonies, military parades, cultural extravaganzas and pledges to work for a better India.
At 9.9 degrees Celsius, it was the coldest Republic Day in a decade. The fog was a deterrent, in the morning, yet thousands of people, from all age groups turned up, flocking to the Rajpath boulevard to celebrate Natinal pride emphatically.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the chief guest at the event, keenly witnessed the Republic Day parade.
Dressed in a dark suit and sporting a striped yellow and black tie, Abe arrived at the saluting base on the Rajpath boulevard along with President Pranab Mukherjee, and was welcomed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
He was introduced to the three service chiefs and other dignitaries before taking his place to Mukherjee's right on the saluting dias.
The President's Bodyguard thereafter formed up, the tricolour was unfurled and the national anthem played before the general officer commanding of Delhi area, Lt Gen Subroto Mitra, rolled down the Rajpath to signal the start of the parade.
The celebrations were peaceful barring a minor bomb blast triggered by militants near the residence of Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.
India's commercial capital Mumbai witnessed a dazzling Republic Day celebration, with a colourful parade at a new location -- the picturesque Marine Drive.
In Kolkata, West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan unfurled the tricolour and took the salute at a colourful march-past by security forces and students.
The simmering tensions over the Telangana issue did nothing to dampen the Republic Day spirit in Andhra Pradesh. Besides the official functions, all political parties marked the day in their own way.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal used the occasion in Ludhiana to demand a redrafting of the constitution, saying the powers of the states had been eroded over the years by successive central governments.
Republic Day was celebrated across Tamil Nadu, with Governor K. Rosaiah presiding over the main event at the Marina beach in Chennai.
Republic Day was celebrated with enthusiasm in Rajasthan. Governor Margaret Alva unfurled the national flag in Jaipur here and witnessed a parade and colourful cultural shows.
The day passed off peacefully in Jammu and Kashmir amid heightened security measures.
Governor N.N. Vohra hoisted the national flag in Jammu while Rural Development Minister Ali Muhammad Sagar did the same in Srinagar. A strike called by separatists, however, affected life in the Kashmir Valley. Security had been mounted throughout Srinagar, where private and public transport remained suspended because of a separatist-called shutdown. Parades and flag hoisting ceremonies were also held peacefully in other district towns of Jammu region and also the Kashmir Valley.
Pomp, pageantry and patriotic fervour were in the air, as the Indian Republic celebrated its 65th Republic Day across the country with flag hoisting ceremonies, military parades, cultural extravaganzas and pledges to work for a better India. At 9.9 degrees Celsius, it was the coldest Republic...
Pomp, pageantry and patriotic fervour were in the air, as the Indian Republic celebrated its 65th Republic Day across the country with flag hoisting ceremonies, military parades, cultural extravaganzas and pledges to work for a better India.
At 9.9 degrees Celsius, it was the coldest Republic Day in a decade. The fog was a deterrent, in the morning, yet thousands of people, from all age groups turned up, flocking to the Rajpath boulevard to celebrate Natinal pride emphatically.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the chief guest at the event, keenly witnessed the Republic Day parade.
Dressed in a dark suit and sporting a striped yellow and black tie, Abe arrived at the saluting base on the Rajpath boulevard along with President Pranab Mukherjee, and was welcomed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
He was introduced to the three service chiefs and other dignitaries before taking his place to Mukherjee's right on the saluting dias.
The President's Bodyguard thereafter formed up, the tricolour was unfurled and the national anthem played before the general officer commanding of Delhi area, Lt Gen Subroto Mitra, rolled down the Rajpath to signal the start of the parade.
The celebrations were peaceful barring a minor bomb blast triggered by militants near the residence of Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.
India's commercial capital Mumbai witnessed a dazzling Republic Day celebration, with a colourful parade at a new location -- the picturesque Marine Drive.
In Kolkata, West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan unfurled the tricolour and took the salute at a colourful march-past by security forces and students.
The simmering tensions over the Telangana issue did nothing to dampen the Republic Day spirit in Andhra Pradesh. Besides the official functions, all political parties marked the day in their own way.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal used the occasion in Ludhiana to demand a redrafting of the constitution, saying the powers of the states had been eroded over the years by successive central governments.
Republic Day was celebrated across Tamil Nadu, with Governor K. Rosaiah presiding over the main event at the Marina beach in Chennai.
Republic Day was celebrated with enthusiasm in Rajasthan. Governor Margaret Alva unfurled the national flag in Jaipur here and witnessed a parade and colourful cultural shows.
The day passed off peacefully in Jammu and Kashmir amid heightened security measures.
Governor N.N. Vohra hoisted the national flag in Jammu while Rural Development Minister Ali Muhammad Sagar did the same in Srinagar. A strike called by separatists, however, affected life in the Kashmir Valley. Security had been mounted throughout Srinagar, where private and public transport remained suspended because of a separatist-called shutdown. Parades and flag hoisting ceremonies were also held peacefully in other district towns of Jammu region and also the Kashmir Valley.
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