6 highlights: 69th Indian Republic Day celebrations

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UAE or India, Republic Day celebrations are afoot and here’s how you can participate in everything.

[Students sing patriotic songs at the Republic Day ceremony of the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi (2016)]
The Indian Republic Day parade in New Delhi is one of the most watched and respected spectacles for Indians worldwide. Every state in India and every Indian embassy across the world celebrates the Republic Day with colourful parades, dances and cultural events.



 

Here are six things you should know about this year’s celebration.

1. Chief Guests

In 2018, leaders from all 10 Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member countries — Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei — will be chief guests at the ceremonial parade at Rajpath, New Delhi.

This is unprecedented in independent India’s history. The Asean flag will fly in the sky over Rajpath for the first time.

[The chief guest for the 2017 Republic Day parade in New Delhi was His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces. ]

2. Presidential Speech

The Presidential speech on the eve of Republic Day is a much anticipated occasion for all Indians and you can watch a webcast of the speech by President Ram Nath Kovind here. Ambassadors, in their respective countries, read out the speech in the embassies before celebrations begin.

3. Colourful marching and parades

Every year, the parade and the celebrations get even more colourful.

Displays from as many as 17 states and six ministries and departments will be presented in the Republic Day parade. According to sources in the Defence Ministry, these displays will showcase the country’s rich cultural heritage and socioeconomic development. Each state’s display depicts its own story, portraying themes ranging from art, folk culture, flora, fauna and achievements.

The UAE contingent march

In 2017, 179 soldiers from the UAE (which included 144 soldiers and 35 band members), led the parade.

4. First time participants

As India celebrates its 69th Republic Day, 113 women from the Border Security Force or BSF will make a mark on the Rajpath, performing breath-taking stunts on motorcycles. The members of this special women bikers’ squad have been specially chosen by BSF trainers and have been drawn from various combat ranks of the force.

Airborne Early Warning and Control System or Netra will also fly over the Rajpath for the first time. This system is essentially an eye (netrain Hindi) in the sky used for surveillance, detection of vessels and other national defense requirements.

5. Traditional highlights

The traditional BSF contingent astride camels, and fifty-one horses of 61st Cavalry Regiment are two major highlights. Performances by school children (this time with a cultural focus on Indo-Asean ties) and tableau groups, an aerial fly-past with 38 aircrafts are also major attractions this year, as they are every time.

6. Awards

Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards are three of the highest civilian awards awarded by the Government of India and were instituted in 1954. Every year, the list of awardees is announced on January 25, before the Republic day celebrations take place on the 26th.


India honoured at Abu Dhabi Festival

In recognition of India’s Republic Day on 26 January, Abu Dhabi Festival is offering a 50 per cent discount on the four evening performances by leading Indian artists and musicians. Available for three days only (24 -26 January 2018), audiences can avail of the offer by using the code IND50 when purchasing their tickets online.

Dates of offer 24 -26 January Dates of events

A free mosa at My Mosa

Get your ultimate ‘My Mosa’ fix free this Indian Republic Day. With every order placed over this weekend, the quirky Indian food truck you can get one of their best sellers absolutely free. The mosas available are Butter Chicken Mosas, Nutella Mosas, and Wild Mushroom Truffle Mosa.

Dates of offer January 26 and 27 Order here Deliveroo, Uber OR call My Mosa on 04 449 8595

A special menu at Antique Bazaar

Antique Bazaar at Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai offers guests a specially curated dinner menu with exquisite Indian dishes including vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. The artistically crafted menu kicks off with a refreshing Lime and Mango Lassi (traditional yogurt based drink), followed by a tri-colour salad that pays homage to the colours of the Indian flag.


Starters include vegetarian and non-vegetarian tandoori (roasted) preparations, while the main course is Paneer Makhani (creamy gravy preparation of tender cottage cheese) and other assorted preparations, along with non-vegetarian dishes like Fish Masala Curry, Chicken Korma and Saagwala Gosht. This will be followed by most favoured Indian sweets such as Gajar Ka Halwa, Rasmalai and Kulfi Falooda.

Source: Gulf News