A sea of patriotism on city streets

Jaipur: Jaipur witnessed an overwhelming wave of patriotism Thursday as more than a lakh people gathered on Mahal Road to watch the 78th Army Day Parade. From as early as 7am, the venue was packed with excited families, children, and senior citizens, all eager to witness the pride and power of Indian Army.The enthusiasm was visible among children. 10-year-old Pihu Mehra, who closely followed the rehearsals, said, "I love watching parades. I watch the Republic Day parade on television every year, and I also came to see the practice sessions here. Watching the real parade today is amazing." Her father, Rajesh Mehra, said Pihu had shown the same excitement during the full-dress rehearsals. "She waits eagerly to see the soldiers and their formations. It makes us happy to see her so inspired by the army," he said.As soon as the army troops and armoured vehicles moved past the crowd, the atmosphere turned electric with slogans of "Jai Hind" and "Indian Army Zindabad". The Rajasthan tableau and the colourful Kalbeliya dance performance won loud applause. For Army families, the occasion was deeply emotional. Kusum Sharma, wife of Brigadier Sanjay Sharma, travelled from Himachal Pradesh to witness the parade. "My husband prepared for this day for the last 2 months. We saw some of the rehearsals earlier, but today is very special for us," she said. Kusum came to Jaipur along with her two sisters.Several children dressed in Army uniforms were seen saluting the soldiers. Senior citizens were equally moved. Ramswaroop Mishra, 63, said, "The army has done so much for this country. We are fortunate to witness this parade today. Such events help the younger generation understand the sacrifices of our soldiers." Manju Goyal, whose son is serving in Indian Army, said, "For us, this is a moment of pride and peace. Because of our soldiers, we are able to live safely in this country."Even after the parade ended, the excitement continued. Outside Viva City Mall, people stood in long queues just to catch one last glimpse of the soldiers and their tanks as they moved away.