Nation celebrates 70th Republic Day today

Nation is celebrating 70th Republic Day today. The main function is organized at Rajpath in the National Capital where President Ram Nath Kovind will take the salute of the parade and the flypast.

A cultural pageant including performances by school children, display of tableaux from different states and various ministries and departments is also organised. South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa is the Chief Guest at the Parade this year.
 
The Republic Day Parade Ceremony will commence with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the nation in paying homage to the martyrs by laying a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate.
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his best wishes to the people of the country on the occasion of Republic Day.
   
The parade will start at 9.50 am from Vijay Chowk and proceed towards the Red Fort grounds through the Rajpath, India Gate, Tilak Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and Netaji Subhash Marg. Multi security has been put in place in view of the Republic day.
 
Around 25 thousand security personnel have been deployed across the city and security has been beefed up at strategic locations in central Delhi. CCTV cameras and face-recognition cameras have also been installed at Rajpath.
 
Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters have also been deployed to keep a watch on the eight-km-long parade route from Rajpath to the Red Fort, besides the nearby localities. Also, flying of para-gliders, para motors, hang gliders, UAVs, microlight aircrafts, remotely piloted aircrafts, hot air balloons etc are prohibited.
 
This year all women marching contingent of the Assam Rifles will take part for the first time led by Major Khusboo Kanwar. The parade will be commanded by Lieutenant General Asit Mistry, General Officer Commanding, Headquarters Delhi Area.
 
The winners of the highest gallantry awards will be followed by him. They include the winners of the Param Vir Chakra and the Ashok Chakra. This year veterans of Indian National Army who fought valiantly against



the imperial forces will also take part in Republic Day Parade.
 
Main Battle Tank of the Indian Army, T- 90 Bhishma, Infantry Combat Vehicle Ballway Machine Pikate,  K-9 Vajra-T, M 777 A2 Ultra Light Howitzer, Akash weapon system, will be the main draw in the mechanised columns. FlyPast will be led by Advanced Light Helicopters Weapon System Integrated  ‘Rudra’ and two Advanced Light Helicopters, ‘Dhruv’ of Army Aviation.

As this year celebration marks the 150th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, the theme of tableaux is Gandhi.
 
Twenty-six children including six girls and 20 boys Awardees of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puruskar 2019 will also grace the occasion. Twenty-two tableaux, comprising of 16 from different States and Union Territories and six Ministries and Departments will display life and ideals of Mahatma Gandhi.
 
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Saubhagya Yojana are some of the themes of the tableaux of Ministries and Departments. The Tableau of Gujarat will depict the historic Dandi March, which was led by Mahatma Gandhi.
 
Uttar Pradesh will showcase Mahatma Gandhi historic journeys particularly to Banaras and Kashi Vidyapeeth. Maharashtra will portray the Quit India Movement. Andaman and Nicobar will showcase the effect Mahatma Gandhi had amongst the inmates of cellular Jail in Andaman.  The Tableau of Karnataka depicts the historic 39th session of the Indian National Congress held at Belagavi in 1924.
 
The Tableau of Delhi will showcase Mahatma Gandhi long association with Delhi and the Birla house, which is now known as Gandhi Smriti. The Tableau of Ministry of Drinking water and sanitation will demonstrate a four year journey of Swachh Bharat Mission.