The newly redeveloped and renamed Kartavya Path (formerly, Rajpath) witnessed the return of an old tradition, which had been abandoned for almost four decades, at the 75th Republic Day celebrations today in New Delhi.
President Droupadi Murmu and French President Emanuel Macron arrived at the Republic Day parade in the open horse-drawn buggy. The practice was discontinued in 1984 due to security reasons, post the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi.
The presidents were escorted by the President's Bodyguard "Rashtrapati Ke Angrakshak". The President's Bodyguard (PBG) is the senior most regiment of the Indian Army, and complete 250 years of service this R-Day, having been founded in 1773.
The presidential horse-drawn buggy is a black carriage that has the Ashoka Chakra, embossed in gold. It has gold plated rims and is drawn by a mixed breed of Indian and Austrian horses. It was used by the Viceroy in the pre-Independence era and later remained with the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Interestingly, India got to keep it after winning a toss against Pakistan! Lt Col Thakur Govind Singh from India and Pakistan Army's Sahabzada Yaqub Khan did the toss, with the former getting it right.
The usage was strictly limited to ceremonial formalities at the Rashtrapati Bhavan after 1984. However, former president Pranab Mukherjee, in 2014, used the buggy to attend the Beating the Retreat ceremony. Former president Ram Nath Kovind, too, used the buggy, while inspecting the Guard of Honour after he took oath in 2017.
The President's Bodyguard
The PBG is the oldest cavalry unit. Fifty-five horses participate in the parade contingent, with six horses drawing the presidential buggy. The mix of Indian and Austrian horses have a minimum height of 150cm and weigh around 500kg. Their colours range from bay, dark to grey. The horses' uniform comprises white head collar, bridle bit, white badgor, leather breastplate, steel and leather reins and lance bucket.
The horses are bred at the Army’s Remount and Veterinary Corps depots and are trained to acclimate to various sounds.
The soldiers atop them are trained cavalry horseriders, paratroopers and armoured fighting vehicle crew. The riders' uniform comprises blue and gold ceremonial turban with a distinctive fan, red coat with gold girdles, white buckskin gauntlets, white breeches, Napolean boots with spurs, lances adorned with red and white cavalry pennon and sheathed cavalry sword by the side of the saddle.
