Labourers On VVIP Seats, NCB Parade Debut: 74th Republic Day Celebrations To See Many Firsts

This year's Republic Day parade will be held along the Kartavya Path in the revamped Central Vista. For the first time, an Egyptian President has been invited as the chief guest.

Indian Army's tanks on display during the full dress rehearsal of the Republic Day Parade 2023, at Kartavya Path in New Delhi, Monday.

Source : PTI

The Republic Day parade 2023 on January 26 would see several firsts. The parade is going to feature tableaux from at least 16 states and Union territories on various themes ranging from culture and spiritualism to women's empowerment.

Among the states that are likely to participate in the tableau parade are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal. Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh are likely to have been selected from among the Union territories.

The flypast will feature 23 fighter jets, 18 helicopters, and 8 transporter aircraft. A vintage Dakota aircraft will also make an appearance.

The number of seats for the 74th Republic Day celebrations has also been reduced to accommodate 45,000 people. 

Just as in 2022, this year's Republic Day will also feature several firsts. Here's what will debut at the Republic Day celebrations in 2023:

1. This year's Republic Day parade will be held along the Kartavya Path in the revamped Central Vista.

2. For the first time, an Egyptian premiere will attend the parade as the chief guest. India has invited Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to attend the celebrations.

3. A 120-member contingent from Egypt will also march in the parade. 

4. The 74th Republic Day parade for the first time will reserve the first-row VVIP seats for special invitees and their families. These special invitees would include 'shramyogis' (labourers who worked on the Central Vista project) rickshaw pullers and vegetable sellers.

5. The Republic Day 2023 will feature for the first time a tableau from the anti-drugs agency, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). The agency personnel and members of its canine unit will march along with the tableaux on Kartavya Path.

6. The Indian Navy's Ilyushin Il-38 Dolphin aircraft will make a Republic Day flypast appearance for the first time on Thursday. This will also be the maritime patrolling aircraft's last appearance. A total of 50 aircraft including 18 helicopters, 23 fighter jets, and 8 transport aircraft.

7. This year, physical invitation cards for guests and spectators have been replaced by e-invitations via a dedicated portal, www.amantran.mod.gov.in, which has been launched. Sale of tickets, admit cards, invitation cards and car parking labels are being issued online through this portal. This will ensure the whole process is more secure & paperless and enable people from all parts of the country to attend this national event.

8. As part of Republic Day celebrations, the first-ever Military Tattoo and Tribal Dance festival is being held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi on January 23 and 24.