WOMEN POWER STEALS THE SHOW AT 75TH REPUBLIC DAY CELEBRATIONS

94 French Prez gets a glimpse of India’s rich cultural heritage and military might.

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The country ushered in its 75th Republic Day with spectacular dis play of its women power and military might that included elite marching contingents, missiles, warplanes, surveillance gadgets and lethal weapon systems.

French President Emmanuel Macron gracing the occasion as the chief guest.

The Republic Day Parade at the Kartavya Path in the heart of the national capital commenced with President Droupadi Murmu taking the salute shortly after she and Macron, flanked by the President’s Bodyguards, arrived in a ‘traditional buggy’.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, several other Union ministers, the country’s top military brass, foreign diplomats and senior officials were among those who witnessed the impressive show that also included a fly-past by helicopters and other aircraft, with even a dense fog cover failing to dampen the spirits of the spectators.

Soon after, Murmu and Macron left from the Kartavya Path in the ‘buggy’, which made a return after 40 years. After the end of the parade, Modi, wearing a multi-coloured ‘bandhani’ print safa, mingled with the excited crowd as people clicked pictures and welcomed him with claps and slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”.