A cold winter morning, coupled with a bright sunny afternoon, on Sunday (January 26, 2025) greeted thousands of people at Kartavya Path as President Droupadi Murmu led India’s 76th Republic Day celebrations, with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto as the special guest for the ceremony, in the national capital.
The celebrations’ theme was ‘Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas,’ showcasing military strength, with focus on development and cultural diversity. The Indonesian Army graced the event with a music band.
Republic Day 2025 highlights
The parade had special focus on 75 years of enactment of the Constitution and Jan Bhagidari, with a unique blend of India’s rich cultural diversity, unity, equality, development and military prowess. Decorated with flowers, and statues, tableaux celebrating 150 years of tribal activist Birsa Munda and 75 years of the Constitution highlighting the “father of the Indian Constitution” Dr. B.R. Ambedkar were key focuses of the event.
Around 10,000 special guests from different walks of life were invited for the parade. According to the Defence Ministry, over 77,000 passes were issued for the event, with 32,000 passes having been sold for citizens.
Tributes to fallen heroes
The parade began at 10.30 a.m., with the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the National War Memorial, where he led the nation in paying solemn tributes to the fallen heroes, by laying a wreath.
The President and her Indonesian counterpart were escorted by the President’s Bodyguard, the seniormost Regiment of the Army. They arrived in the ‘traditional buggy’, the practice which made a comeback in 2024 after a gap of 40 years.
While invitees stood still, the National Flag was unfurled, followed by the National Anthem with a thunderous 21-gun salute using 105-mm Light Field Guns, an indigenous weapon system.
The parade was heralded by 300 cultural artists playing ‘Sare Jahan Se Achha’ with musical instruments such as shehnai, sundari, nadaswaram, been, mashak been and ransingha.
The parade was commanded by Lieutenant General Bhavnish Kumar, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, a second-generation officer.
Slowly, as contingents marched down the Kartavya Path, the Brigade of the Guards, the Jat Regiment, the Garhwal Rifles, the Mahar Regiment, the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Regiment, the Corps of Signals, among others, reverberated the crowd with patriotic music and beats. Over 31 tableaux decorated the Kartavya Path
Tri-Services tableaux
For the first time, a Tri-Services tableaux rolled down the Kartavya Path, displaying the spirit of jointness and integration. With the theme ‘Shashakt aur Surakshit Bharat’, the tableau depicted a Joint Operations Room facilitating networking and communication among the three Services.
In Pictures: India celebrates 76th Republic Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves as he leaves after attending the Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path.
India’s Border Security Force’s (BSF) daredevil team performs during the Republic Day parade.
A contingent of soldiers marching at Kartavya Path during the 76th Republic day parade celebrates in New Delhi.
The first aerial formation of the day, the ‘Dhwaj Formation’, proudly carried the National Ensign along with the respective service ensigns of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
IAF performed variety of formations including Dhwaj, Ajay, Satluj, Rakshak, Arjan, Netra, Bheem, Amrit, Vajrang, Trishul and Vijay. The concluding Vertical Charlie manoeuvre was performed by a Rafale fighter aircraft.
School students perform dance during Republic day celebration at Armed Reserve Police ground in Madurai.
The Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi takes the salute of the parade held at Kamarajar Salai in Chennai.
Decorated government department tableaux rolling down on Kamarajar Salai during the 76th Republic Day celebration in Chennai.
Group of students march at the Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar.
Students perform during Republic Day celebration in Bakshi Stadium Srinagar.
Deputy Chief Minister of J&K Surinder Kumar Choudhary inspect parade Republic Day in Bakshi Stadium Srinagar, Sunday 26 January 2024.
An ABVP activist, waves national flag Republic Day celebration at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, on January 26, 2025.
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Another highlight was a veterans’ tableau on the theme ‘Viksit Bharat ki Ore Sadaiv Agrasar’, which was a heartfelt tribute to the unwavering spirit of veterans, symbolising discipline, resilience, and unyielding dedication.
The tableau of the Coast Guard focussed on coastal security and maritime search and rescue. The theme was ‘Swarnim Bharat: Heritage and Progress’.
In the parade, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) displayed innovations for national security. DRDO’s major landmarks of 2024 were showcased in the tableau. Among the crowd pullers was the Pralay missile, an indigenously developed short-range tactical missile, which made its debut at the Kartavya Path.
Among the contingents marching down the Kartavya Path was a 148-member, all-women marching contingent of the Central Reserve Police Force. Last year, the parade witnessed women at the forefront, and keeping the initiative going, several women led tableaux again this year.
Full text of President Droupadi Murmu address to the nation
The Delhi Police marching contingent was led by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Rishi Kumar Singh. The Delhi Police all-women band participated for the second time, led by Band Master Ruyangunuo Kense.
Cheers for camel contingent
The Camel contingent of the Border Security Force too garnered many cheers, with the animals moving gracefully, dressed in traditional attire.
Tableaux from 16 State governments/union territories and 10 ministries and departments of the Central government highlighted ‘Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas.’
While Goa focused on cultural heritage, Uttarakhand stressed on adventure sports, and Jharkhand emphasised on its legacy of progress.
Etikoppaka Bommalu, eco-friendly wooden toys, was Andhra Pradesh’s unique tableau. Punjab’s tableau showcased it as the land of knowledge and wisdom. The Haryana tableau hogged limelight as it featured a number of Olympians from the State.
Madhya Pradesh displayed the Kuno National Park — the land of cheetahs, while Uttar Pradesh celebrated the Mahakumbh.
Dressed in traditional attire, over 5,000 artists danced to the tunes of ‘Jayati Jaya Mamaḧ Bharatam’, which featured over 45 dance forms from different parts of the country. For the first time, the performance covered the entire Kartavya Path — from Vijay Chowk to C hexagon.
Number of formations
As the colourful folk art forms left the Kartavya Path, now it was time for Corps of Signals Motorcycle Rider Display Team, famously known as ‘The Dare Devils’, which showcased its bravery and determination through a number of formations, garnering claps.
The Republic Day ended with one of the most eagerly awaited events of the parade, the ‘Fly-past’, an air show by 40 aircraft/helicopters — 22 fighter jets, 11 transport aircraft and seven helicopters — of the Indian Air Force. These include Rafale, Su-30, Jaguar, C-130, C-295, C-17, AWACS, Dornier-228 and An-32 aircraft and Apache and Mi-17 helicopters, displaying a variety of formations, including Dhwaj, Ajay, Satluj, Rakshak, Arjan, Netra, Bheem, Amrit, Vajrang, Trishul and Vijay. The concluding Vertical Charlie manoeuvre was performed by a Rafale fighter aircraft, which left people awestruck.
The ceremony culminated with the National Anthem and the release of balloons carrying banners with the official logo depicting 75 years of enactment of the Constitution in both English and Hindi.
