India marks Republic Day with grand parade

FE Team | Published: January 26, 2018 22:25:07

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2L) and Indian President Ram Nath Kovind (L) pose with Prime Minister of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith (R), Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi (3R) and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loon (3L) after India's 69th Republic Day Parade in New Delhi on Friday. — AFP

NEW DELHI, Jan 26: Marching contingents, strategic defence weaponry and colourful tableaux were on display as India celebrated its 69th Republic Day on Friday with a grand parade watched by thousands of people along with ten Asean leaders who attended the event as chief guests, in a historic first, reports PTI.
Signifying India's fast growing strategic ties with Asean, leaders of all the 10 countries of the powerful bloc attended the parade at the majestic Rajpath which showcased the country's military might and cultural diversity.
Cold weather conditions and dense fog failed to dampen the enthusiasm of thousands of spectators who witnessed the nearly one-and-half-hour-long parade that marched down the eight-kilometre stretch from the Rajpath to the Red Fort amid an unprecedented security cover.
The Asean leaders, here to attend the India-Asean Commemorative Summit, joined President Ram Nath Kovind and Modi at the Republic Day parade, making it an unprecedented event.
Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, Singaporean Premier Lee Hsien Loong and Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah were among the Asean leaders who attended the event.