New Delhi, Jan 21 (Representative) Republic Day Parade 2025 will be a unique blend of India’s cultural diversity and military prowess, with special focus on 75 years of enactment of the Constitution and Jan Bhagidari, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said here on Monday. Addressing the media, the Defence Secretary said that the President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto will be the chief guest at the parade. He stated that a 160-member marching contingent and 190-member band contingent from Indonesia will take part in the Parade at Kartavya Path on January 26 along with the contingents of the Indian Armed Forces. This year, 31 tableaux from various states, Union Territories, and Central Government ministries and departments will participate, showcasing the theme “Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas.” After the National Anthem, balloons with banners of the official logo of the 75th year of the Indian Constitution will be released. The event will conclude with a flypast by 47 aircraft. Sixteen tableaux will be from different state governments and Union Territories and 15 from central government ministries. Other important highlights are the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and India Meteorological Department, a Defence Ministry statement said.The Republic Day Parade will start in the morning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying a wreath at the National War Memorial. President Droupadi Murmu will arrive at Kartavya Path in a ceremonial buggy and take the salute during a ceremonial march past, which will include units from the Armed Forces, Para Military Forces, Auxiliary Civil Forces, NCC, and NSS.As many as two tableaux during the parade will showcase the celebration of 75 years of the Constitution.Free Metro rides will be provided to invitees and ticket holders of RDP-2025 at entry points of the metro stations across Delhi. Delhi Metro operations will begin at 4 a.m on January 26 across Delhi. Parking spaces of Delhi Metro across Delhi will be opened on a chargeable basis at regular rates. Under park and ride scheme, invitees will park their vehicle at Palika Parking,
Connaught Place and JawaharLal Nehru Stadium’s parking area (gate-14 & 15) from there they will use the ferry services (pick and drop) through the hired DTC buses. The ferry services will start at 6 a.m. and stop at 8-30 a.m. All enclosures are accessible and Divyang-friendly with ramp facility. There will also be youth volunteers from NCC with wheelchairs for assistance. To honour their contributions to nation and society building, special guests from different walks of life have been invited as the government’s special guests to witness the event.This year, Delhi-based couples from each state and UT, dressed in traditional attire, are being invited to witness the parade. Dressed in traditional attire, these guests will symbolize the diversity of India on Kartavya Path. For the first time, around 2,000 winners of different online competitions, being organised by Ministry of Defence in collaboration with MyGov and All India Radio are being invited. The Republic Day Parade will be heralded by 300 cultural artists playing ‘Sare Jahan Se Achha’ musical instruments of different parts of the country. The Republic Day celebrations will come to a close with the ‘Beating Retreat Ceremony’, which is held on January 29 at Vijay Chowk. On the day of the Beating Retreat in Delhi, at 6.15 in the evening the bugles will call the retreat sound and the National Flag would be lowered and the National anthem will be sung in musical harmony. During the Beating Retreat Ceremony, only Indian tunes are to be played by all the participating bands.‘Bharat Parv’ will be organised at the Red Fort, Delhi from January 26-31 by the Ministry of Tourism. It will showcase Republic Day Tableaux, performances by the Military Bands (Static), cultural performances, Food Courts serving pan India cuisines and Crafts Bazaar.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet NCC Cadets, NSS Volunteers, Youth Exchange programme cadets, tableaux artists, tribal guests, etc. of Republic Day Celebrations at his residence on January 24.PM’s NCC rally, with the theme of ‘Yuva Shakti-Viksit Bharat’, is scheduled to be organised at Cariappa Parade Ground, Delhi Cantt. on January 27, 2025, where the Prime Minister will review the multifarious activities of the NCC.