Republic Day parade to showcase nation's achievements

New Delhi, Jan 25 : The 59th Republic Day parade will highlight the nation's achievements in various fields such as military prowess, scintillating display of air power and also our rich and diverse cultural heritage.

The days events will commence at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate where Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will lead the nation in paying homage to the martyrs by laying wreath.

An eternal flame burns at the Amar Jawan Jyoti to commemorate the indomitable courage of armed forces personnel, who have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the motherland.

After unfurling the national flag, the national anthem will be played. Thereafter, President Pratibha Patil will confer Ashok Chakra posthumously to Major Dinesh Raghu Raman of Jat Regiment / 34 Rashtriya Rifles, Captain Harshan of 2 Parachute Regiment, Naib Subedar Chunnilal of eight Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and Colonel Vasantha Venugopal of 9 Maratha Light Infantry.

The Republic day parade will then commence and President Patil will take the salute.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy will be the chief guest for this year's Republic Day celebrations.

The armed forces will showcase the Bhishma T-90 Tank, Bridge layer Tank T-72, 155mm / 45mm Soltam Guns, Smerch Multiple Launch Rocket System, BrahMos missile, Tunguska Air Defence Weapon system, Sarvatra Bridge, Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP-II and carrier mortar tracked vehicle. The marching contingents of para-military and other auxiliary civil forces will include contingents from Border Security Force (BSF), Assam Rifles, Coast Guard, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Railway Protection Force, Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme.

'Jaanbaz', the motorcycle display by the BSF will be a major attraction of the parade. It will consist of 178 riders on 34 motorcycles performing border man salute, ladder balancing, parallel bar, human pyramid, guldasta safari and flag march.

As many as 26 tableaux from states and public undertakings will show their regional cultural heritage and developmental projects will also featured in the parade.

Eighteen of the 22 children selected for the National Bravery Award 2007 will also participate in the parade riding on caparisoned elephants.

In the children's pageant section, over 1400 boys and girls drawn from different school of Delhi and various cultural zones will present dances and other programmes.

The grand finale of the parade will be a spectacular Indian Air Force (IAF) flypast led by MI-26 and Advanced Light Helicopters followed by Big Boy Formation comprising an IL-76, two AN-32 and two Dorniers.

After the Big Boy Formation, five Jaguars will fly in Arrow Head Formation followed by the BAAZ formation of 5 MIG-29 aircrafts.

The Trishul formation comprising three SU-30 MKI will speed down the Rajpath and once in front of the dias, the SU-30MKI aircraft in the centre will carry out a vertical Charlie manoeuvre.

The parade will be commanded by Major General K J S Oberoi, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area. Brigadier Harvinder Pal Singh Dhillon will be the parade Second-in-Command.

The marching contingents of Army will be from the Punjab Regiment, the Grenadiers Regiment, the Rajputana Rifles Regiment, the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment, the Assam Regiment, the Mahar Regiment, 8 Gorkha Rifles and Territorial Army (126 and 155 Infantry Battalion).

The marching contingents of Navy comprising 144 men will be led by Lieutenant Commander Ravi Kant Pandey and the Air Force contingent comprising 148 men will be led by Squadron Leader Ashok Sharma.

The ceremony will culminate with the national anthem and release of balloons.

ANI