R-Day parade this year to have more cultural elements, says defence secretary

NEW DELHI: The Republic Day parade this year will have more cultural elements, though its basic military character will be retained, with the new indigenous Pralay missile being among the wide array of weapon systems to be showcased.
“The military and martial character of the parade is being maintained, but we want to make it a broader societal-cultural programme, with wider participation from our society, both in terms of the performers and the invitees,” defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Monday.
With Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto being the chief guest at the 90-minute parade down the majestic Kartavya Path on Jan 26, a marching contingent and band from the country will also take part in the annual celebration. In all, there will be 18 marching contingents, 15 bands and 31 tableaux.
The parade, with the theme “Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas”, will be “heralded” by 300 cultural artistes with Indian musical instruments. It will also witness a performance by 5,000 folk and tribal artistes that will cover the entire Kartavya Path from one end to the other.
Around 10,000 “special guests” have been invited to the parade this year to ensure “Jan Bhagidari”, which include “best performers” in various fields and those “who have made the best use” of various govt schemes.
India’s two main indigenous aviation showpieces, Tejas fighter jets and Dhruv advanced light helicopters (ALHs), however, will not be part of the Republic Day fly-past this year, as was earlier reported by TOI.
“The grounding of the ALH fleet (there are 330 such choppers in the armed forces) is a slight setback. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is currently conducting safety checks, and it will be sorted out soon. However, it is unlikely the fleet will return to action in time for the parade,” Singh said.