As the sun rises over Kartavya Path on January 26, New Delhi will host a Republic Day parade blending tradition, ambition and technology. Thirty tableaux will roll forward — 17 from States and Union Territories, 13 from Ministries, Departments and Services — each narrating a story of India’s past, present and future under the themes “Swatantrata ka Mantra: Vande Mataram” and “Samriddhi ka Mantra: Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”
States bring culture and history to the fore. Assam celebrates Asharikandi’s terracotta craft; Rajasthan shines with Bikaner’s Usta art; Punjab marks 350 years since Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib’s martyrdom; West Bengal revisits its freedom struggle; Madhya Pradesh honours Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai Holkar; and Uttar Pradesh carries Bundelkhand’s cultural pulse. Other states spotlight progress — Kerala highlights Water Metro and digital literacy, Odisha presents “Soil to Silicon”, Tamil Nadu focuses on prosperity, and Manipur charts its journey from agriculture to global markets.
Central ministries amplify this vision. Defence displays, led by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), showcase cutting-edge power: hypersonic missiles capable of Mach 10 speeds, advanced submarines equipped with Air Independent Propulsion systems, Wire Guided Heavy Weight Torpedoes, and the Integrated Combat Suite developed by 150 industry partners. Land and air forces feature Arjun MBTs, Nag missiles, BrahMos, Akash systems and surveillance radars, underscoring India’s selfreliant defence capabilities.
Other tableaux reflect milestones in education, health, disaster resilience, criminal justice, power reforms and skill development. Together, the parade is more than ceremonial precision — it is a living narrative of India’s heritage, resilience and technological ambition, signalling a nation rooted in history yet racing towards a future of self-reliance and global capability.