Republic Day, India
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Five things to know about 66th Republic Day
The history of the parade
January 26 marks the day in 1950 when India adopted its constitution, after gaining independence from Britain in 1947.
Every year, India hosts the leader of a foreign country as chief guest for the parade. Obama is the first US president to be guest of honour.
Its Content
The Republic Day parade is a pomp-filled spectacle that combines the Soviet-style showcasing of military hardware with carnival-style floats featuring tribal dancers and traditional music.
Columns of uniformed troops will march down New Delhi's broad Rajpath avenue as helicopters shower the crowds with petals.
2014: Expenditure
Centre spent Rs 320 crore on R-Day in 2014: RTI Priyangi AgarwalThe Times of India Jan 25 2015 Bareilly:
Ever wondered how much the Republic Day ceremony at Rajpath, with all its smart marches, colourful tableaus and performing artistes, costs to put together? A query under the RTI Act has elicited a response from the Central Public Works Department that says the Centre spent Rs 320 crore on the four-hour parade in 2014. Over the years, the expenses have risen substantially . In 2001, the expenditure was Rs 145 crore.
Pawan Agrawal, a Moradabad-based RTI activist, had last year sought details on the expenses incurred on I-Day and R-Day functions at the Red Fort from 2000 to 2013. The response to his query , however, only contained details of expenses on Republic Day celebrations.
The Rs 145 crore incurred in the financial year 2000-01 rose to Rs 226 crore in 2003-04. For the next three years, though, expenditure decreased somewhat, in step with a not-sohealthy economy . In 2006-07, the government spent Rs 149 crore, before the sum rapidly climbing up to Rs 320 crore in 2014.
2015: Highlights
US President Barack Obama was chief guest at India's Republic Day parade, a spectacular projection of the nation's military might and cultural diversity.
Every year state governments and ministries are selected to create tableaux on different themes, which in 2015 included Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" campaign to boost the country's manufacturing industry and create much-needed jobs.
In 2015 the tableaux also highlighted national achievements such as the launch of India's first space mission to Mars.
One show-stopper was the Border Security Force (BSF) on their brightly-decorated camels — one of only a few military forces in the world to use the animals.
The grand finale was a display of daring motorcycle stunts by the BSF, famed for their formation of a human pyramid on moving bikes, followed by a spectacular fly-past by the Indian Air Force that leaves a smoke-trail of the orange, white and green national flag.
What was new
All-female units from the Army, Navy and Air Force will march for the first time in this year's parade, which will feature 25 tableaux -- five more than in 2014.
Security was particularly tight this year, with roads sealed off and the metro shut down for the duration of the parade. Snipers will be posted on rooftops along the parade route, while helicopters and surveillance drones monitor from above. Some 400 kilometres (250 miles) around the venue has been declared a no-fly zone and 15,000 new CCTV cameras have been installed.
President Obama
Obama breaks 2 traditions at R-Day parade The Times of India Jan 27 2015
Obama broke two traditions -one Indian and one American -on Monday.The Indian President and the chief guest always arrive for the parade in the President's vehicle. But Obama turned up in his custommade Beast, which has armour plating and five-inch thick bulletproof windows, instead of President Mukherjee's armoured Black Mercedes Benz S600 (W221) Pullman Guard. Obama also ignored US secret service protocol that he not spend more than 45 minutes at any open-air venue. He was at Rajpath for over two hours.
India connect
January 16, 2015
The 44th US President is our 66th Republic Day chief guest.Here's more to Obama's India connect
LUCKY CHARM
Barack Obama carries with him a tiny figurine of Hanuman.This gladdened Hindu hearts so much that in 2008, a dozen priests in Delhi chanted to the monkey god to grant Obama victory in the elections.
DESTINATION INDIA
This is the third time Obama is visiting India: he first came as a student; in 2010, when he called the US-India relationship to be the "defining partnership of the 21st century", and also hosted a town hall meeting at St Xavier's College,Mumbai
DIWALI NIGHTS
Ever since he took office, the President and the First Lady have welcomed guests to the White House for Diwali celebrations, which start with lighting of a diya in the White House.
YOUNG INDIA
One of the things that he admires about India is the potential of its vast young population,mostly below 30.
CULTURE VULTURES
The US First Lady Michelle Obama is known to be a collector of iconic Indian art: Ganesha,Patachitra scrolls of Bengal and Madhubani paintings of Bihar. She also enjoys dancing to Bollywood music.
MAHATMA CONNECT
As an African-American, he has a 'personal'connection with India.An admirer of Mahatma Gandhi, he has a portrait of Gandhi in his senate office. Often draws comparisons between the plight of his immigrant father from Kenya and that of Indian immigrants.
FRIENDS AND MORE
Obama has shown support for Indian-Americans by appointing many of them to high public offices in the US such as Vinai K.Thummalapally and Aneesh Chopra among many others.
See also
Republic Day, India <>Republic Day, India: 1950 <> Republic Day, India: Guests of Honour, 1951-69 <> Republic Day, India: Guests of Honour, 1970-79 <> Republic Day, India: Guests of Honour, 1980-89 <> Republic Day, India: Guests of Honour, 1990-99 <> Republic Day, India: Guests of Honour, 2000-09<> Republic Day, India: Guests of Honour, 2010-19
