Arab News: Thousands of Indians converged on a ceremonial boulevard in the Indian capital to watch a display of the country’s military power and cultural diversity amid tight security during Saturday’s national day celebrations.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was the chief guest at the Republic Day parade, which celebrates the anniversary of the adoption of India’s Constitution in 1950. India had first invited President Donald Trump but US officials declined, citing a scheduling issue.
Schoolchildren, folk dancers, and police and military battalions marched through the capital’s parade route on a cold morning, followed by the military hardware display that included M777 American Ultra Light Howitzers artillery guns, T-90 main battle tanks, locally made nuclear-capable missile systems and infantry combat vehicles.
Men, women and children in colorful dresses performed traditional dances and acrobatics on the sun-bathed boulevard, drawing applause from the spectators.
The spectacle ended with Indian air force aircraft whizzing past the saluting base. Millions of Indians watched the 90-minute display on television sets in their homes across the country.
The theme of the parade was the 150th birthday of India’s independence leader, Mohandas Gandhi. Ramaphosa watched with interest and waved at tableaux depicting among other things Gandhi’s life as he won independence for the country from British colonialists in 1947.
Gandhi’s days in South Africa influenced his decision to resist racial segregation and other injustices with nonviolent protests.
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