400 tribals from across country specially invited to watch Republic Day parade

New Delhi, Jan 19 (PTI) Around 400 tribals have been specially invited from across the country to watch the Republic Day parade, adding a sheen of diversity to the viewers' gallery, a home ministry order said Monday.

The representatives of the indigenous communities hailing from remote forests, highlands, and borderlands across the country will also get a chance to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it said.

They will join 5,000 "special guests", who have made exceptional contributions to nation-building, and their spouses, to watch the spectacle.

In addition, 50 Delhi-based couples from each state and Union territory, dressed in their traditional attire, have been invited to witness the parade.

The procession along Kartavya Path will feature 30 tableaux from states, Union territories, and central government departments competing for official prizes, with the public also serving as arbiter of their favourite tableaux and marching contingents in a separate "Popular Choice" category through an online poll on the MyGov platform.

The country's military might will be displayed through a rhythmic parade, followed by a fly-past of 29 aircraft, including Rafales, Su-30s and MiG-29s, P-8I surveillance planes, Apache and light combat helicopters, and transport workhorses such as the C-130 and the C-295.

The viewers will be seated in enclosures named after country's rivers -- Beas, Brahmaputra, Chambal, Chenab, Ganga, Godavari, Krishna, Narmada, Yamuna and others -- while for Beating the Retreat ceremony, the theme will shift from geography to culture, with enclosures named after Indian musical instruments, from the bansuri and mridangam to the sitar, sarod and veena.

"Approximately 10,000 seats will also be made available on 'Amantran Portal' free of cost for the general public on registering themselves at the said portal with a valid ID proof," the office memorandum said.

The ceremony will begin on the morning of January 26, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying a wreath at the National War Memorial. An Inter-Services Guard will give a salute and, thereafter, a two-minute silence will be observed.

"The president will arrive in a buggy to Kartavya Path and take the salute at a ceremonial march past, which will consist of units drawn from the three Services, Paramilitary Forces and other Auxiliary Civil Forces, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme," it said.

The rhythm of marching boots will be taken over by the musical beats from across the country, with the participation of 2,500 artistes and 30 tableaux from various states, UTs, and central government departments. PTI ABS SKY SKY