NEW DELHI
: From indigenous 105mm Indian field guns giving a 21-gun salute and a BSF contingent of women riding on camels, several ‘firsts’ were recorded as India celebrated its 74th Republic Day on Thursday. It was also the first time that the Republic Day parade was held on the newly renamed Kartavya Path.
Among the special features were a contingent from Egypt, the display of only Made-in-India military armament and a contingent of newly recruited Agniveers. ‘Nari shakti’ was the dominant theme, from several contingents to tableaux.
The Republic Day celebrations commenced at the National War Memorial where PM Modi led the nation in paying homage to the martyrs. Then, President Droupadi Murmu was escorted by the President’s Bodyguard on dark bay coloured mounts to Kartavya Path, where Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was received by PM Modi.
The Republic Day parade saw a spectacle of combined band and marching contingent from Egypt, which made its first appearance in India on Thursday. The parade was kicked off with a march of the Egyptian armed forces amid a thunderous applause from the crowd.
Since Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi joined the country in celebrating the 74th R-Day, the contingent from Egypt made a debut at Kartavya Path. There was excitement among the public to watch a foreign contingent.
The combined band and marching contingent of the oldest regular army known to humanity- ‘The Egyptian Army’, was led by Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdel Fattah El Kharasawy. The Egyptian armed forces have considered it as an honour and privilege to participate in India’s Republic Day Parade.
The military parade group consisted of 144 soldiers who represented the main branches of the Egyptian armed forces.
The Egyptian contingent carries the legacy of one of the oldest regular armies known to humanity. Its history goes back to 3200 BC when King Narmer unified Egypt. The Old Kingdom was considered to be the height of Egyptian civilisation.
The modern Egyptian Army was established during the rule of Muhammed Ali Pasha (1805-1849). The Egyptian armed forces were significantly involved in many expeditions and wars between the 19th century and 20th century.