69th Republic Day Celebrations

More visuals from the 'At home' reception hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind

#Visuals from Rashtrapati Bhawan: 'At home' reception being hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind #RepublicDay pic.twitter.com/gl6E9aXlqI

— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2018

Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Congress President Rahul Gandhi and former PM Manmohan Singh at 'At home' reception hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind #RepublicDay pic.twitter.com/bhJsjB4pqB

— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2018

Contingents march through Delhi's Daryaganj area, towards the culmination of the parade

The Republic Day celebrations end with the a vertical charlie in air by a lone SU-MKI flying at 900 kmph

BSF India women's motorcycle team, Seema Bhawani, performs at the 69th Republic Day celebrations

The contingent is led by sub-inspector Stanzin Noryang

The contingent from South Central Zone Cultural Centre, Nagpur, presents the Baredi Folk Dance

The Central Public Works Department's floral tableau depicts one of India's biggest festivals - Diwali, symbolically signifying the victory of light over darkness

The tableau of Ministry of Tribal Affairs, showcased its landmark scheme for minor forest produce sector - 'Uchit Dam Hak Se Maang'

The tableau of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police force

The tableau of Manipur showcases local folklore - the story of Khamba and Thoibi

The Karnataka tableau at the Republic Day parade depicting the state's wildlife

(ANI)

Ramgarh's ancient amphitheatre is depicted in the tableau of Chhattisgarh

The tableau of Maharashtra commemorates the coronation of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Uttarakhand tableau focuses on rural tourism in the state

The tableau of the All India Radio (AIR) depicted the organisation's journey of more than eight decades of public service.

The logo of AIR -- Bahujan Hitaaya Bahujan Sukhaaya -- is displayed on the rear of the tableau.

The NCC Boys' Band played 'Kadam kadam badhaye ja' during their Republic Day parade

Weapon locating radar SWATHI -- an indigenous radar which can simultaneously track up to seven targets

(ANI)

The foot contingent of the Border Security Force leads the marching contingent of the paramilitary forces

The camel-mounted BSF band -- the only one of its kind in the entire world -- marches while playing their song 'Hum hain seema suraksha bal'

The tableau of the Indian Navy

The first marching contingent is the Punjab Regiment, the second highest decorated regiment of the Indian Army

India showcases the only supersonic cruise missile in the world -- the famed Brahmos Missile System of 881 Missile Regiment -- at the 69th Republic Day celebrations

India displays its military prowess at the 69th Republic Day celebrations

President Kovind awards the Ashoka Chakra to the mother and wife of Late Air Force Commando JP Nirala who lost his life in Bandipora encounter

(ANI)

President Kovind gives away the gallantry awards for the year

Saints unfurl tricolour at Magh Mela in Allahabad

(ANI)

The President has arrived at the venue of the Republic Day celebrations

He will now take the salute as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the nation.

Watch: PM Modi pays tribute to martyrs at Amar Jawan Jyoti

This is the first time that Ram Nath Kovind will take the salute as the President of the country.

Prior to this, he was the Governor of Bihar.

Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong, and Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen, have also reached the venue.

Najib Razak, prime minister of Malaysia, arrives for the Republic Day celebrations

Prime Minister of Vietnam, and state counsellor of Vietnam, Aung San Suu Kyi, Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha arrive at the venue

The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, proceeds for the venue of the celebration from Rashtrapati Bhavan

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu also reaches the venue

Prime Minister Modi reaches the venue for the 69th Republic Day celebrations

India has invited the heads of ten ASEAN countries to be chief guests at the Republic Day celebration this year

PM Modi leaves from India Gate for Rajpath where the Republic Day procession will take place

PM Modi, Union defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman reach India Gate to lay wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh hoists the tricolour at his official residence in New Delhi

Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi unfurls the national flag at the Republic Day celebrations in Guwahati

(ANI)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RepublicDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RepublicDay</a> greetings to Indians across the world. On this day, let us take pride in the achievements of our Nation and reaffirm our commitment to contribute towards building a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NewIndia</a>, a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PositiveIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PositiveIndia</a>. <a href="https://t.co/RIRyzDGTlE">pic.twitter.com/RIRyzDGTlE</a></p> &mdash; Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) <a href="https://twitter.com/smritiirani/status/956699288695967745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2018</a></blockquote>

69वें #गणतंत्रदिवस के पावन अवसर पर हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं l ???????? #RepublicDay pic.twitter.com/df8TR129uR

& mdash; Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) January 25, 2018

सभी देशवासियों को गणतंत्र दिवस की बहुत-बहुत शुभकामनाएं। Greetings on #RepublicDay. Jai Hind!

& mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 26, 2018

Doordarshan all set for extensive coverage of R-Day parade

Public broadcaster Doordarshan has planned an extensive coverage of the Republic Day parade tomorrow, capturing the glorious view beyond the India Gate by deploying more cameras this year. "This will be a truly spectacular parade with leaders of 10 ASEAN nations attending the event. We will make every effort to give a visual treat to our viewers," Prasar Bharati Chairman A Surya Prakash said. READ

History will repeat itself this Republic Day

History will repeat itself this Republic Day. On January 26 , 1950 when India celebrated its first Republic Day , the chief guest was south-east Asian strongman Sukarno. Sixty-eight years on, India has again invited an Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, to grace the occasion. Only this time, the Indonesian President will not be the solitary chief guest. The country will roll out the red carpet for heads of nine other Asean countries who will witness India display its military might and cultural diversity during the parade. READ

26th January 2018, Republic Day: History and significance of this important day

The democratic nation of India unites to marks its 69th Republic Day tomorrow - a day of pride for all countrymen. While most of us associate this day with the grand Republic Day parade since years, the day is a lot more than just that. READ

Republic Day 2018 Celebrations: Know what is special this year

The Republic Day is celebrated every year on January 26 to honour the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect in 1950. The celebration is held in grandeur in national capital's India Gate. This year marks the 69th Republic Day of India and like every year, the highlight of the day is the parade that takes place at the India Gate. READ

Disagree, but respect fellow citizens’ rights: President

On the eve of Republic Day, President RN Kovind, in his first Republic Day address, said there can be a disagreement with another viewpoint, or even a historical context, without mocking fellow citizens' dignity and personal space. A "civic-minded nation is built by civicminded neighbourhoods, whether in our cities or our villages, where we respect the nextdoor person's space, privacy and rights," he said. READ