Republic Day 2024: As India’s seventy fifth Republic Day Parade kicked off in the nationwide capital, a 30-member band contingent and a marching contingent of the French Foreign Legion participated in the occasion in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu and French President Emmanuel Macron on the Kartavya Path on Friday. Two Rafale fighter jets additionally flew over the Kartavya Path in the course of the parade.
A 95-member marching contingent and a 33-member band contingent from France will participate in the parade. Two Rafale fighters and an Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport plane of the French Air Force may even characteristic in the celebrations. There are six Indians in the French staff – CCH Sujan Pathak (Chief corporal), CPL Dipak Arya (Corporal), CPL Parbin Tandan (Corporal), Gurvachan Singh (First Class Legionnaire), Aniket Ghartimagar (First Class Legionnaire) and Vikas Djeassegar (First Class Legionnaire).Â
Watch the video of the French contingent
Kartavya Path witnessed a march previous by a mixed band and marching contingent of the French Armed Forces. The band contingent was headed by Captain Khourda and adopted by a marching contingent led by Captain Noel Louis. It was adopted by the second Infantry regiment of the French Foreign Legion comprising 90 legionnaires led by Captain Noel. The Legionnaires put on the well-known ‘White Cap’, which could be worn solely by legionnaires who efficiently went by way of 4 months of exhausting choice checks.
Set up in 1831, the French Foreign Legion is an elite army corps open to foreigners to serve in the French Army with sure circumstances. At current, it has virtually 9,500 officers and legionnaires, comprising round 140 nationalities from all around the world, stated Louis.
Macron has been invited to this 12 months’s Republic Day celebrations in the nationwide capital, culminating with the completion of 25 years of the India-France strategic partnership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated it’s a matter of nice satisfaction that the French President will probably be participating in the seventy fifth Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on Friday.
About Republic Day
President Murmu earlier commenced the Republic Day celebrations by unfurling the tricolour at Kartavya Path. The nationwide flag was unfurled following the nationwide anthem with a 21-gun salute given with indigenous gun system 105-mm Indian Field Guns.
The President was accompanied by her French counterpart as they arrived at Kartavya Path in the ‘Traditional Buggy’, a follow which made a comeback after a spot of 40 years. Macron and President Murmu have been escorted by her bodyguard – Rashtrapati ke Angrakshak’ and have been obtained by PM Modi.
This 12 months, India is commemorating its seventy fifth Republic Day, marking the adoption of the structure on January 26, 1950, and the attainment of sovereignty. The constituent meeting held its first session in December 1946 and the final session in November 1949, following which the structure was enacted a 12 months later with Dr BR Ambedkar as the pinnacle of the drafting committee.
Earlier, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane stated ladies marching contingents will type the main chunk of the parade, with many of the tableaux of States and Union Territories (UTs) and Central Ministries and Organisations showcasing the nation’s wealthy cultural range, unity and progress.
The parade may even witness an all-women Tri-Service contingent marching down Kartavya Path for the primary time. The CAPF contingent may even consist of girls personnel.”The best representation of women will be seen in this year’s Republic Day parade,” the Defence Secretary stated.
(with ANI inputs)
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