New Delhi/Chennai: The country’s 74th Republic Day was celebrated in the capital city of Delhi yesterday.
On this occasion, Prime Minister Modi paid his respects by placing a wreath at the war memorial in Delhi. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was invited to attend the ceremony as a special guest. He was escorted from the President’s House to the military parade route by President Draupathi Murmu in his vehicle flanked by cavalrymen. This will be the first Republic Day function that Drarubathi Murmu will attend after assuming office as the President.
Both were welcomed by Prime Minister Modi, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and the three army chiefs and escorted to the ceremony stage.
Later, President Drabupati Murmu unfurled the national flag. Then 21 cannon shots were fired and the national anthem was played.
Later, Commander Lieut. The military parade started under the leadership of General Diraj Seth. Army vehicles carrying indigenous Akash missiles and Arjun artillery vehicles were paraded along the line of duty by the security forces. As the first team, 144 Egyptian soldiers marched under the leadership of Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdel Fattah El Qarasawi. This is the first time that the Egyptian Army unit is participating in the Indian Republic Day parade. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar and others participated in the function.
Decorative Vehicles: Decorated vehicles representing the cultures of 17 States and Union Territories and 6 decorated vehicles of Central Government Departments participated in the parade.
In the decorative vehicle of the Tamil Nadu government, the Tanjore Big Temple Gopuram was designed with intricate carvings. The Tamil Nadu Urthi was designed to represent the strength of women in education, knowledge, arts, war and agriculture. On the facade, he looked majestic. Statues of M.S. Subbulakshmi, Bharatanatyam artist Thanjavur Pala Saraswathi, Muvalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar, first woman doctor Muthulakshmi, 107-year-old old woman farmer Pappammal were also present in the music hall. On the front of the chariot, Velu Nachiyar, riding on a horse, was realistically designed to celebrate the bravery of Tamil women.
As the finale of the parade, Air Force fighter jets performed stunts and enthralled the audience. 45 aircraft of the Indian Air Force participated in the parade.
The Governor hoisted the flag: For the first time this year, the Republic Day celebration was held at the Laborer’s Statue area at Chennai Marina Beach. This time the venue was changed due to metro rail works going on in the Gandhi statue area where the function is usually held.
At 7.50 am Chief Minister M.K.Stalin and at 7.52 am Governor RN Ravi arrived there. Chief Secretary V. Irayanbu introduced the officers of the three armed forces and the police department to the governor. Governor RN Ravi hoisted the national flag at 8 am.
Flowers were showered from an Air Force helicopter. Following are Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Ex-Servicemen, Central Reserve Police, Central Industrial Security Division, Railway Police, Tamil Nadu Special Police Force, Disaster Relief Force, Coast Guard, Tamil Nadu Commando Force, Nilgiri Force, Cavalry, Governor RN Ravi accepted the parade honors from Forest, Jail, Fire Departments, Home Guard, National Student Corps, National Welfare Scheme, Tamil Nadu Road Safety, Sculptor Corps and various school teams. Bands and vehicles of Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard also took part in the parade.
Subsequently, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin presented the Anna Medal for Heroism, Fort Ameer Religious Harmony Medal, Gandhidigar Police Medal, Chief Minister’s Award for Best Police Stations, Special Award for High Productive Farmer Adopting Revised Paddy Cultivation Technology. After that, there were artistic performances by school and college students, Kalbeliya dance from Rajasthan, Koli dance from Maharashtra, Pakurumba dance from Assam on behalf of Thanjavur Southern Cultural Center, Silambatam, Karakatam and Naiyandi Melam were organized by the media department.
Long Live Tamil Nadu!: At the event in Chennai, a vehicle with the slogan ‘Long Live Tamil Nadu’ by the Press-Public Relations Department came first in a parade of decorative vehicles.
Further, the government’s programs will be explained in the vehicle, police, youth welfare and sports, cooperatives and food, rural development, agriculture, school education, health, handloom, Adi Dravidian and tribal, tourism, social welfare, housing, forest, charities, fire department and Neyveli Brown. Coal Company vehicles participated in the team class.