Rafale jets, marching contingents: What stole the show for first-timers at the 77th Republic Day

The parade commenced with President Droupadi Murmu taking the salute. 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 present.

The parade then commenced with 30 tableaux — 17 of states and union territories and 13 of ministries, departments and services — rolling down the road to loud applause.

The show-stopper, however, was the Indian Air Force (IAF) flypast.

In a magnificent display of the country’s air power, the IAF’s fighter jets flew in a special Sindoor formation. The seven-aircraft formation comprised two Rafales, two Su-30s, two MiG-29s and a Jaguar aircraft.

Among the spectators was Mona Kumari (35). Dressed in a sari that sported the colours of the Indian flag, she had hoped to watch the parade with her family. “Somehow, only my ticket came through, no one else’s,” she said.

Unfazed, she came alone. “My husband dropped me at the gate and I watched the parade alone. I was just amazed by the discipline of the soldiers who were marching. They must have practiced for so many days, I can’t even imagine. It looks so much better than watching it on TV,” she said, a smile on her face she couldn’t contain.

For Raveena Tanwar (30), the helicopters and fighter jets left her in awe. “I wanted to make sure my children actually know what they read about in the textbooks, so we asked a relative to arrange some tickets for us,” she said.

Raveena hoped her children, 10-year old Daksh and 8-year-old Bhavishya, as well as their cousins, Divyansh and Gunjan, would be inspired by the parade and learn about their country’s past.

Around 10,000 special guests from across the country — farmers, artisans, scientists, innovators, women entrepreneurs, students, sportspersons, beneficiaries of flagship government schemes, and frontline workers — were invited to the programme.

Also invited were school children who had taken part in various competitions held across India to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram.

One of them was Roshan Arjun (16); he had come to Delhi all the way from the town of Cheyyar in Tamil Nadu with his father. He was invited as he was among the top 200 shortlisted from across the country in a quiz held on ISRO’s work.

“I was inspired by the celebrations and I’m now more keen to read about the Constitution and follow its ideals,” Arjun, who wants to become an astronomer, said.

For 9-year-old Aishwaryam Kumar Sharma, being invited to this Republic Day was a moment of culmination of more than three years of classical singing practice. He was among the 200 shortlisted for singing the national song and had come to Delhi from Ranchi, Jharkhand, with his father.

“I learnt about so many cultures different from ours by watching so many different tableaus,” Aishwaryam said.

Aritra Dhar (27) Shishir Kana (22) from West Bengal were among the first-timers at the parade. They are pursuing an MBA at the National Power Training Institute, under the Ministry of Power.

“Everything stood out for us, but the fleet of fighter jets and the Bhairav Battalion were what I liked best,” Aritra, a UPSC aspirant, said.

“We always wanted to see the parade as this day gave us the principles on which the country runs,” he added.