India Celebrates 70th Republic Day, Parade Winds Down in Delhi

Thousands of people gathered to watch the Republic Day parade on Saturday, 26 January, in New Delhi’s Rajpath.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his tribute at Amar Jawan Jyoti, ahead of the parade.

President Ram Nath Kovind will address the nation on Friday, 25 January, on the eve of the 70th Republic Day.

The address will be broadcast from 7 pm on the entire national network of All India Radio and telecast on all channels of Doordarshan in Hindi followed by the English version, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

This will be followed by broadcast in regional languages by regional channels of Doordarshan, the channel said in a statement.

The national capital has been wrapped in an unprecedented security blanket with around 25,000 security personnel keeping hawk-eyed vigil to thwart any terror strike or untoward incident during the 70th Republic Day celebrations.

Security has been beefed up in the wake of the arrest of two suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) members, who were allegedly planning to carry out terror strikes in the national capital during the Republic Day celebrations.

The JeM members had reportedly identified Lajpat Nagar market, Haj Manzil, Turkman gate, Paharganj, India Gate and the IGL gas pipeline in east Delhi as potential targets.

Multi-layered security arrangements are in place. Around 25,000 police personnel, including traffic officials, have been deployed. CCTV cameras and face-recognition cameras have also been installed at Rajpath, Madhur Verma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) said.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 25 January, ahead of the Republic Day celebrations tomorrow.

A total of 855 police and paramilitary personnel were awarded police medals Friday, including 149 for gallantry in Jammu and Kashmir, Naxal violence affected areas and others, ahead of the Republic Day.

The CRPF, the country's largest paramilitary force, was decorated with maximum 44 awards for bravery followed by Odisha Police at 26 medals, Jammu and Kashmir Police 25 medals and Chhattisgarh 14 medals.

Three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were also decorated posthumously with the top category President's Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG).

Addressing the nation on the eve of Republic Day, President Ramnath Kovind stressed on the significance of this Independence Day.

He also stressed on the importance of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and pointed out that those born in the 21st century will get to vote for the first time.

Showing pride in the daughters of the nation, President Kovind said:

The Indian Army conducted a “beating the retreat” ritual on the Attari-Wagah border, reported ANI.

Security has been heightened at Bhopal Junction railway station on the eve of the Republic Day, reported ANI.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station, Municipal Corporation Building, and Mantralaya building in Mumbai, Maharashtra, illuminated on the eve of Republic Day.

The Lalbagh Republic Day Flower Show started on Friday, 25 January, in Bengaluru. The show houses a recreation of Mahatma Gandhi's cottage in Wardha Ashram, Rajghat, models of the three monkeys, glasses made of millets & a sculpture of Dandi March.

Sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik's makes a sand sculpture in Odisha’s Puri, on the eve of Republic Day.

The Delhi traffic police has issued an advisory to commuters to plan their journeys in advance to avoid delays and avoid the route of Republic Day parade between Vijay Chowk and Red Fort grounds in the national capital, news agency ANI reported.

Traffic movement has been closed since 2 am on the C Hexagon - India Gate till the parade crosses Tilak Marg.

However, alternate routes have been provided for the North-South and East-West movement of the traffic via the Ring Road.

The Delhi traffic police has deployed 3,000 personnel for Republic Day duty.

Entry and exit at some of the metro stations in central Delhi will be closed for few hours in the morning of Republic Day on Saturday as part of security arrangements, officials said.

For two stations neighbouring Rajpath, Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan, entry and exit facilities will not be available from 6.00 am to 12.00 pm, a senior DMRC official said.

"Entry and exit at Patel Chowk and Lok Kalyan Marg metro stations will be closed from 8.45 am to 12.00 pm," he said.

The Central Secretariat station can only be used for interchange facility for passengers, between Line 2 or Yellow Line (HUDA City Centre - Samaypur Badli) and Line 6 or Violet Line (Kashmere Gate-Raja Nahar Singh).

Crowds gather for the Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi.

Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan hoists tricolour on Republic Day in Vijayawada.

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit unfurls the national flag on Republic Day. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy CM O Panneerselvam were also present.

BJP President Amit Shah unfurls the tricolour at the party office in Delhi.

Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal present at Republic Day celebrations in Bhubaneswar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his wishes to Indians on Republic Day.

The Republic Day parade will begin at Rajpath at 9.50 am, prior to which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay tribute at the Amar Jawan Jyoti.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath present at Republic Day celebrations in Lucknow.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute at the Amar Jawan Jyoti.

President Ram Nath Kovind was awarded the Ashok Chakra to Lance Naik Nazir Ahmed Wani, who lost his life while killing six terrorists in an operation in Kashmir.

The award was received by his wife and mother today.

Visuals of the K-9 Vajra-T, a self-propelled howitzer, commanded by Captain Devansh Bhutani.

The BSF exchanged sweets with their Bangladeshi counterparts, at Fulbari, at Indo-Bangladesh border near Siliguri in West Bengal.

Jammu & Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik unfurled the national flag in Jammu.

The Veterans tableau-2019, showcases the theme – 'Veterans: Accelerators in Nation's Growth'.

Visuals of the Republic Day celebrations from Darul Uloom Firangi Mahal Madarasa in Lucknow.

Tableaux of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Maharashtra and Sikkim during the Republic Day parade.

The tableau of Punjab is based on the theme of Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

The tableau of Karnataka is based on the 39th session of the Indian National Congress held in Belagavi in 1924, which was presided over by Mahatma Gandhi.

The tableau of Delhi showcases Mahatma Gandhi’s association with Delhi and Birla House, which is now known as Gandhi Smriti. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and his wife were present in Rajpath, to witness the parade.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel celebrate Republic Day at 18,000 feet and -30 degree celsius in Ladakh.

26 children, including 6 girls and 20 boys, have been honoured with Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puruskar 2019.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister & BJP leader Nitin Gadkari at Republic Day parade at Rajpath in Delhi.

33 people on 9 motorcycles make a human pyramid during the Republic Day parade. Subedar Major Ramesh A lead this formation.

PM Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa witness flypast at Republic Day parade in Delhi.

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi unfurls the national flag during the 70th Republic Day celebrations at Madina Circle in Hyderabad.

Lieutenant Bhavana Kasturi, the first woman officer of the Indian Army to lead an all-men contingent of the Army Service Corps (ASC) at the 70th Republic Day, told news agency ANI that saluting the President was the most memorable moment of her life.

Photos of the woman officer saluting the president made its rounds on the social media and were tweeted widely, with the girl from Hyderabad being lauded for her poise and confidence.

She said that the ASC got the chance to march at the parade after 23 years and is hopeful of getting the best marching contingent award this year.