Many Firsts Power R-Day Blitz

Indian Air Force also showcased its might with Rafale fighter in a large tableau

- Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu and Abhishek Bhalla

On its 71st Republic Day, India showcased a mega 90-minute display of its military might, cultural diversity and socio-economic progress, on Rajpath, on Sunday. Making a departure from the tradition, instead of Amar Jawan Jyoti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to visit the National War Memorial near the India Gate to pay tribute to Indian soldiers.

The India Gate was built in the memory of soldiers who fought for the British in World War, while the war memorial is a tribute to Indian soldiers post Independence. The war memorial was inaugurated on 25 February, 2019 — the PM, the CDS and the three service chiefs paid tributes at National War Memorial.

President Ram Nath Kovind unfurled the Tricolour, which was followed by the National Anthem and 21-gun salute at Rajpath. This year, Brazil President Jair Messias Bolsonaro was the Chief Guest. It is for the first time that a “Tri-service formation” took part in the parade.