NEW DELHI: Nari Shakti dominated the 74th Republic Day parade on Thursday as women officers led the marching contingents of the armed forces, CRPF, Akash missile system and Army’s Daredevil team. Also, women empowerment was the main theme of tableaux of several states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu and ministries. Though the focus of the Modi government has been to put women in the leading roles in the R-Day parade for the last few years, this was the first time they were seen in large numbers dominating the majestic parade on Kartavya Path.
Squadron Leader Sindhu Reddy, who has served the IAF for over nine years and flies an Mi-17 helicopter that is considered the workhorse of the air force, led the all-male marching contingent of the IAF. Her contingent comprised 144 air warriors and four officers.
The naval contingent of 144 young sailors was led by 29-year-old Lt Cdr Disha Amrith as contingent commander and Lt Ashwani Singh, Sub Lt Priyanka Sharma and Sub Lt M Aditya as platoon commanders. The 29-year-old is an engineering graduate in computer science from Karnataka, who in 2008 was part of the NCC’s R-Day team and nurtured the dream of being part of the R-Day marching contingent. On Thursday, her dream came through. Another special feature of the naval contingent was for the first time, it consisted of three women and six men newly-recruited Agniveers.
In a first, the marching contingent of the CRPF, which has the distinction of raising the first-ever women-armed police battalion in the world, had all women personnel this time. Also for the first time, BSF women soldiers in colourful uniforms, who have been deployed along the desert border with Pakistan, joined the parade as part of the camel contingent. The Delhi Police women pipe band comprising 35 women constables too was part of the parade for the first time and played the ‘Delhi Police Song’.
Lt Chetna Sharma from Army Air Defence Corps was part of the Akash missile defence system and saluted the supreme commander President Droupadi Murmu as the DRDO-developed surface-to-air missiles went past the VIP gallery. Lt Dimple Singh Bhati jointly led the Corps of Signals’ Daredevil Team, who showed acrobatics on running motorcycles. Bhati, a first-generation Army officer from Jodhpur, participated in the parade for the first time.
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74th Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path celebrates culture, diversity, valour
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<p>Winners of Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra at Kartavya Path in New Delhi on Thursday.<br /></p>
<p>The combined band and marching contingent of the Egyptian Armed Forces marched at Kartavya Path for the first time. The contingent was led by Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdel Fattah El Kharasawy.<br /></p>
<p>The 61st Cavalry, the only serving active Horsed Cavalry Regiment in the world, marched at Kartavya Path. Their motto is ‘Ashva Shakti Yashobal’.<br /></p>
<p>AKASH weapon system of 27 Air Defence Missile Regiment, ‘the Amritsar Airfield’, K9-Vajra-T (Self-propelled) Gun System, the detachment of Brahmos of the 861 Missile Regiment were part of Thursday’s parade.</p>
<p>The naval tableau, designed on the theme ‘Indian Navy – Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive and Future Proof’, showcased the multi-dimensional capabilities of the force, “Nari Shakti” and key indigenously designed and built assets under ‘aatmanirbhar bharat’. The IAF tableau, designed on the theme ‘The Power of the Indian Air Force Beyond Borders’, displayed a revolving globe. </p>
<p>The all-women Central Reserve Police Force marching contingent, The regal camels of the BSF, NCC Boys’ and Girls’ marching contingents were part of the parade.<br /></p>
<p>Andhra Pradesh’s tableau that rolled down the Kartavya Path as part of the Republic Day celebrations here on Thursday, had a bullock cart in the front showcasing the festival of Prabhala Theertham which is celebrated during Makar Sankranti, the main theme of the float.<br /></p>
<p>Legendary Ahom General Lachit Borphukan and the revered Kamakhya Temple and other cultural heritage of Assam were depicted on the state’s tableau as it rolled down the Kartvaya Path during the 74th Republic Day celebrations.<br /></p>
<p>Uttarakhand on Thursday showcased its wildlife and religious sites at the parade, while Kutchi embroidery and decoration known for its mirror work, traditional ‘bhungas’ and renewable energy production were the focus elements in the tableau of Gujarat.<br /></p>
<p style=”color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;”> Lord Krishna giving sermons to Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra and the deity’s “Virat Swaroop” are the centrepiece of the 74th Republic Day tableau showcased by Haryana on the Kartavya Path. </p>
<p>Karnataka’s tableau also celebrated women power. Sulagitti Narasamma, a midwife, Tulsi Gowda Halakki, known as Vruksha Maate (mother of trees), and Salumarada Thimmakka (Thimmakka of row of trees) have become noted names due to their selfless contributions to the society.<br /></p>
<p>The Uttar Pradesh tableau for the Republic Day parade this year was inspired by the Ayodhya Deepotsav celebration. The tableau showcased the three-day Deepotsava being organised since 2017 in the state.<br /></p>
<p style=”color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;”>Tripura tableau’s theme also revolved around women’s power. It highlighted sustainable livelihood through tourism and organic farming in Tripura with active participation of women. The tableau created the Mahamuni Pagoda at the front. Arunachal Pradesh’s tableau showcased the potential for tourism in the fields of adventure, sports, ecology, culture, religion, history and archaeology.</p>
<p>The making of a ‘Naya Jamma and Kashmir’ and ancient Amarnath cave shrine are the main themes of the J-K Republic Day tableau that rolled down the Kartavya Path amid patriotic fervour at the ceremonial boulevard.<br /></p>
<p>Based on the theme ‘Tourism and composite culture of Ladakh’, its tableau exhibits the essence of the UT’s harmonious relationship with nature and rest of the world. The tableau of Jharkhand showed the famous Baidyanath Temple located in Deoghar. Lord Birsa Munda was depicted in the front of the tableau.<br /></p>
<p>The colourful tableaux of West Bengal, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu were also part of the Republic Day parade on Thursday.<br /></p>
<p>Daring motorcycle display by Corps of Signals Dare Devils team were also part of the Republic Day celebrations at Kartavya Path.</p>
<p>Spectacular flypast by 50 aircraft during 74th Republic Day celebration, defying the gloomy weather, left people stunned.<br /></p>
<p>The NCB showcased its tableau at the Republic Day parade here for the first time, highlighting the message of “Nasha Mukt Bharat”. Bedecked with colourful flowers, the CPWD’s tableau at the Republic Day parade depicted biodiversity conservation, including the reintroduction of cheetah in India 70 years after the spotted feline went extinct from the country. <br /></p>
The theme adopted by various states and the paramilitary force was largely on ‘Nari Shakti’. The West Bengal tableau depicted Durga Puja in Kolkata and celebrated its inscription on Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Assam’s tableau showcased the legendary Ahom General Lachit Borphukan and its cultural landmarks, including the famous Kamakhya Temple. The Ministry of Culture, too, presented Shakti Rupena Samsthita tableau to celebrate the divine feminine, who resides in and empowers all living beings. Kerala presented the tableau on folk tradition of women empowerment that includes Kalaripayattu, a martial art with more than 2000-year-old history, percussion and tribal traditions. The tableau from Tamil Nadu was also based on women empowerment and culture of the state, which prevailed from the Sangam era to the present day. The Navy’s tableau showcased India’s first passenger drone Varuna, which has been developed by a core team of women experts of a Pune-based defence startup.
