5 Reasons to Travel to the Capital City this Republic Day

 

26^th January is here again, a celebration of sovereignty, secularity and of being the largest and most flourishing democracy in the world. This year, the French president Francois Hollande will be the chief guest. There will be flags hoisted in schools and offices, sincere resolutions will be made to be more deserving citizens and almost everyone will be watching the parade telecast live on Doordarshan.

But, here are 5 reasons why you should ditch the television and travel to the capital city this Republic Day:

1. The Sights

Let’s be honest. There’s something incredibly patriotic to be part of the crowds at India Gate and the Red Fort as celebrations begin. There’s no match to the thrill and excitement of physically being there to watch the Republic Day parade live. You’ll see the President delivering his speech live to millions of Indians, followed by the National Awards for Bravery given to children from all over the country along with the commemorative awards to personnel from the armed forces for displaying extraordinary courage in the call of duty and beyond.

2. The Sounds

The 8-kilometre path from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the historic Red Fort reverberates with sounds unique to the Republic Day parade. Here’s what you won’t hear on TV: the echo of 21 booming canons saluting the Tricolour as it is hoisted by the President of India; the powerful roar of helicopters from the armed forces flying above and past the crowds, showering them with rose petals; the thundering sound of boots hitting the asphalt coupled with the commanders’ powerful cries to attention when the contingents of the Army, Navy and Air Force march past the President’s dais; perfect tunes emanating from 20 well-practiced marching bands filling up the skies, and finally, the collective intake of a thousand breaths as the armed forces proudly display the country’s mighty defence in the form of cutting edge weapons, tanks and missiles!

 

3. The March Past

The impressive march past by nearly 25 armed forces’ contingents is undoubtedly the most anticipated part of the Republic Day parade. The sight of the brave soldiers, willing to lay down their lives for the nation is bound to fill your heart with pride. Dressed in crisp uniforms of their respective regiments, donning colourful headgear, marching with clockwork precision in faultless formations is a sight to behold for kids and grown-ups alike. Watch out for the camel mounted BSF contingent –the only camel mounted regiment in the world!

 

4. The Culture

Adding to the colours and pageantry will be more than 30 cultural tableaux or floats from different states showcasing the grand diversity of India. From folk songs to intricately carved murals, from traditional dance to reenactments of state history: the floats have it all. Don’t forget to cheer for your home state from the crowds! 

 

5. The Stunts

As the parade draws to an end, comes the moment that kids absolutely love – the gravity defying stunts of the Tornado Bikers and the BSF Dare Devils; their agility and finesse are duplicated by none and this is a sight worth witnessing. Finally, crane your neck up and hold your breath for the spectacular air show by the mighty Indian Air Force. The maneuvers and complex formations created in the air by jet formations are enough to give you goose bumps. No TV screen in the world can recapture that feeling!

Being a part of the bustling crowd of compatriots, soaking in all the sights and sounds at the venue and the feeling that we belong to a great and powerful nation can only come from being a part of the celebration. There couldn’t be a better way of enlightening our new and young generation of the rich heritage that they belong to.

So make a change in your Republic Day plans and head to the capital this year to give your children and yourself one of the most memorable experiences of your life.