IAF fly past at Rajpath: One Rafale with 2 Jaguar Deep penetration strike aircraft and 2 MiG-29 Air Superiority Fighters, in Eklavya’ formation.
NEW DELHI: The 72nd Republic Day parade on Tuesday witnessed several firsts and first-time misses due to the Covid pandemic. A 122-member Bangladesh contingent, two IAF women pilots, IAF s newly acquired multirole fighter aircraft Rafale, troops deployed in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and a tableau of newly constituted UT of Ladakh made their debut in the parade.
However, for the first time in over five decades the R-Day parade had no foreign dignitary as chief guest as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was supposed to come to India, had to cancel his visit at last minute due to a spike in new-strain Covid cases in his country. Also, this time there was no participation of military veterans and motorcycle-borne daredevils, who used to be the parade’s centre of attraction in past years. Due to Covid restrictions, even the
President s bodyguards rehearse for Republic Day Parade, Delhi (Credit: ANI)
NEW DELHI: The 72nd Republic Day celebrations tomorrow will have several firsts and will also miss out on some long-standing traditions for the first time. While the number of visitors, tableaus and participants in the parade will be significantly less this year, the highlights will be the Rafale flypast, a foreign contingent and India’s first woman fighter pilot.
Bangladesh s armed forces contingent to participate
This year, a 122-member contingent from Bangladesh s armed forces will be part of the Republic Day parade. They will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1971 Indo-Pak war that led to the liberation and creation of Bangladesh. This is the first time that a marching contingent from a neighbouring country is being invited to participate in the parade. France has been the other country to feature in a previous year. This will be the third time India will be hosting a foreign contingent to part
India s first woman combat fighter pilot, Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth, is part of the IAF tableau that rolled down the Rajpath on full -day rehearsal on Saturday.
NEW DELHI: This year’s Republic Day parade will be unique as it will witness several firsts and several first-time misses. From the participation of troops deployed in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India’s first woman fighter pilot, a tableau of newly formed UT of Ladakh to the flypast by the country’s newly acquired multirole Rafale fighters over Rajpath, visitors will be enthralled to see many things for the first time.
However, the country’s 72nd R-Day parade will have no chief guest after more than five decades, no participation of military veterans and even no stunts by motorcycle daredevils. “Due to Covid restrictions, even the route of the parade has been curtailed till National Stadium (C-Hexagon of India Gate) unlike previous years when it was till Red Fort. Also, the size of marching contingents