India will celebrate the 74th Republic Day at a newly renovated ceremonial square in the capital, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as the guest of honor.
India is celebrating the 74th Republic Day at a newly renovated ceremonial square in the capital, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as the guest of honor.
Thousands of people braved cold weather and fog on Thursday as they gathered to watch demonstrations in New Delhi, showcasing the country’s security forces and cultural heritage.
The holiday commemorates the fact that India adopted its constitution and became an independent nation in 1950, three years after gaining independence from British rule.
Several thousand people, braving the cold on a foggy morning in New Delhi, watched the demonstrations from their seats around the Kartavya Path – or work path – while millions more watched on television.
Accompanied by marching bands, the country’s army, border and police forces marched in unison towards the venue where Indian President Droupadi Murmu saluted.
His Egyptian counterpart el-Sisi, dressed in a blue suit and matching tie, looked on alongside Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wore a saffron and yellow turban.
The country’s rich and diverse heritage was showcased in colorful images from various countries and ministries, highlighting the central theme of “nari shakti” or the power of women.
The army was equipped with indigenously manufactured weapons, which shows India’s willingness to be self-reliant in the defense sector.
In recent years, demonstrations in countries controlled by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have increasingly incorporated major Hindu symbols and themes.
One such demonstration in northern Uttar Pradesh – India’s most populous state of 200 million people – had a religious festival in the temple town of Ayodhya as its theme. It was in this town that a Mughal-era mosque was demolished by a Hindu mob in 1992, sparking deadly riots across the country.
#RepublicDay | | The Haryana table shows the composition of the Bhagavad Gita. Overall, this tableau shows Lord Krishna serving as Arjun’s charioteer and giving him the knowledge of the Gita. The paintings on the sides of the cart depict various scenes of the Mahabharat war pic.twitter.com/5t3B5nJxuM
– ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2023
The event culminated in a flyover of 45 aircraft of the Indian Air Force, with French-made Rafales, Russian-made Su-30s and Indian-made Tejas fighter jets taking center stage.
But the foggy weather dampened the interest, as people struggled to see the plane soaring overhead.
Earlier, Modi, along with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and senior officials, paid tributes to the martyred soldiers at the National War Memorial in the capital.
“This day is special this year because we are celebrating the independence of Amrit Mahotsav,” Modi wrote in Hindi, referring to his government’s celebration of the 75th anniversary of India’s independence.
The first Egyptian leader to attend
El-Sisi, who is on a three-day visit to India, became the first Egyptian president to be invited to the Republic Day celebrations.
On Wednesday, the Egyptian leader congratulated the Indians and said it was a “great privilege” to be the guest of honor on “the nation’s glorious day”.
“The relationship between Egypt and India is characterized by stability and stability. We have seen encouraging development. We have always been in good progress,” he said.
This year, India and Egypt, who have been trading partners for a long time, are seeking closer ties, especially in defense.
Indian media reports said Thursday’s parade included the marching of 144 Egyptian soldiers.
Reports also say that the special forces of the two countries will participate in military exercises in the cities of Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaipur in the Rajasthan desert in western India.
Egypt depends on food supplies from Russia and Ukraine which have been uncertain since the war began nearly a year ago.
Last year, Cairo ordered more wheat imports from India to lower its food prices.
