These photos, taken decades back in 50s and 60s, not only show the masses celebrating the event with patriotic fervour, but also features students and traditional dancers performing live.(Image Courtesy: Getty Images)
26th January 1961: Traditional Indian dancers and drummers make their way along the processional route of India's 11th Republic Day celebrations in Delhi.
26th January 1961: A group of young girls play instruments and dance during a march past to celebrate India's 11th Republic Day in Delhi.
30th January 1956: India celebrates its Republic Day with a five mile long parade starting at the Great Place and ending at the historic Red Fort. The president Rajendra Prasad (1884 - 1963) takes the salute.
27th January 1961: Crowd in New Delhi after the Republic Day Parade in honour of HM the Queen.
15th January 1951: Some of the 54 camels which made up a unit of the Jaisalmer Risala, the Indian Army's first regular camel corps formed since partition. They were in Delhi to take part in the Republic Day parade.
Courtesy:http://ibnlive.in.com/news/snapshot-vintage-photos-of-indias-republic-day-celebrations/447724-37-64.html
India celebrates 65th Republic Day, President unfurls the tricolour (IANS) / 26 January 2014
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abekeenly witnessed the Republic Day parade at which he was the chief guest.
An Indian youth poses as he runs with his national flag ahead of the country's Republic Day. AFPPresident Pranab Mukherjee unfurled the tricolour. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abekeenly witnessed the Republic Day parade at which he was the chief guest.
Dressed in a dark suit and sporting a striped yellow and black tie, Abe arrived at the saluting base on the Rajpath boulevard along with President Pranab Mukherjee, and was welcomed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
He was introduced to the three service chiefs and other dignitaries before taking his place to Mukherjee’s right on the saluting dias.
The President’s Bodyguard thereafter formed up, the tricolour was unfurled and the national anthem played before the general officer commanding of Delhi area, Lt Gen Subroto Mitra, rolled down the Rajpath to signal the start of the parade.
Schoolchildren, folk dancers, and police and military battalions marched through New Delhi, followed by the military hardware display and folk dances. India adopted its democratic Constitution on Jan. 26, 1950.
PM pays homage to unknown soldier
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh paid homage to the unknown soldier on the occasion of the Republic Day.
With the three service chiefs in attendance, Manmohan Singh laid a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial at India Gate in the heart of the city.The prime minister, Defence Minister A.K. Anthony and others then observed a two-minute silence after the buglers sounded the Last Post.
Manmohan Singh signed the visitor’s book before heading back to the saluting base on Rajpath for the Republic Day parade where his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe is the chief guest.
Colourful parade dazzles Mumbai
Mumbai witnessed a dazzling Republic Day celebration, with a colourful parade at the picturesque Marine Drive.
Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayanan hoisted the national flag and took the salute at the parade in south Mumbai along the Arabian Sea promenade.
Present on the occasion were Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, his cabinet colleagues as well as Bollywood actor Salman Khan.
This is the first time the parade has been held at Marine Drive. The traditional venue was Shivaji Park in central Mumbai.
The parade saw around 25 tableaux put up by government departments and ministries highlighting achievements as well as vintage cars and a cycle rally that were cheered by people from both sides of the Marine Drive.The crowds were thrilled as the army, navy and air force jointly put up demonstrations and daring display of their capabilities.
There were also cultural shows including traditional Maharashtrian dances and other aspects depicting the state’s rich culture and heritage.
Chavan earlier announced that the best float would get Rs.5 million, the second best Rs.2.50 million and the third best Rs.1.50 million.
Meanwhile, the Republic Day was also celebrated in schools, colleges and housing societies, with millions turning out for the festivities. The tricolour was hoisted across the state in official and private functions—in district towns and villages.
Blast in Manipur, none hurt
Suspected militants triggered a bomb blast, minutes before the start of the Republic Day Parade, police said. No one was reportedly injured.
The area where the bomb went off is close to the official residence of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.
“A powerful bomb was exploded near the deputy commissioner’s office in the eastern part of the Imphal city Sunday morning,” said a police spokesperson.
Police officials with additional reinforcement have rushed to the spot. A combing operation was launched to nab the guerrillas who set off the blast.
“It was not yet clear whether the bomb was planted or hurled from the nearby areas,” the police official said.
Police said the militant outfit behind the blast was not yet confirmed.
Army soldiers on Saturday recovered two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted at separate places of Manipur’s Bishnupur district. Both IEDs were safely defused.
Security was further stepped up at strategic locations, including crowded commercial areas of Ima Market, Paona Bazaar, Thangal Bazaar and Governor Road and civil secretariat areas in Imphal. Police have also enhanced frisking and patrolling in and around the Imphal city.
Six frontline separatist outfits based in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura earlier gave a call to boycott the Republic Day celebrations and asked people to observe a general strike from 1 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan 26.
Separatist rebel groups in the northeast have for years boycotted national events and have staged violent attacks in the run-up to the celebrations to make their presence felt.
Tight security for Republic Day in Delhi
Over 50,000 security men, including those drawn from paramilitary forces, would guard Delhi on Republic Day.
Over 45,000 Delhi Armed Police personnel and about 5,000 of the paramilitary forces are being deployed and would turn core of New Delhi—the seat of power of the central government within Delhi - into an impregnable fortress.
Over 35,000 armed security men would keep vigil on the Republic Day Parade route from the sprawling Vijay Chowk at the foo0t of the Raisina Hill to the historic Red Fort seven km away.
“We have no security threat in the national capital pertaining to the R-Day celebrations this year. However, we are fully prepared with security vigilance as like in other years,” said a police official.
The officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told IANS the whole of central and New Delhi areas would have tight security and other areas of the national capital would be kept under surveillance.
He said all high-rise buildings along then parade route, railway and Metro stations, bus stops and termninuses and airports have come under security cover.
“Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) will be deployed for surveillance from 5 a.m. to 12.30 a.m. to secure the air as air force fighter planes are to put up a spectacular show during the fly-past,” said the official.
The airspace over the capital will remain closed for an hour from 11.15 a.m. to 12.15 p.m.
“The UAVs will keep an eye not only on the parade route but the entire city,” the official said.
Around 500 men of the Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF), 15 companies or 1,500 men of the Central Reserve Police Force and the elite National Security Guards would be deployed in the city.
At least 700 additional CISF men will man Metro stations and over 5,000 other men of the force would guard the airport terminals.
Over 400 CCTV cameras have been installed between Rajpath and the Red Fort.
President Pranab Mukherjee would unfurl the Tricolour and take salute of the marching contingents at Rajpath.
No vehicle would be allowed on Rajpath from 6 p.m. Jan 25 and vehicular movement would be restricted on Tilak Marg, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg and Netaji Subhash Marg up to Red Fort from 4 a.m. Jan 26 until after the parade is over.
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