76th Republic Day: President Droupadi Murmu unfurls national flag, parade begins

President Droupadi Murmu unfurled the national flag in the presence of her Indonesian counterpart, Prabowo Subianto, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Kartavya Path on Sunday, marking the beginning of the 76th Republic Day celebrations. The flag-hoisting was followed by the national anthem and 21-gun salute. 

The iconic Republic Day parade has begun and a band from the Indonesian military academy performed as part of the parade. The contingent consisted of 152 members, with 190 members in the military band.

 Earlier, President Murmu and Indonesian President Subianto arrived at Kartavya Path in a traditional buggy. Prime Minister Modi received them at the venue. Ahead of the parade, Mi-17 IV choppers of IAF's 129 Helicopter Unit showered flower petals in 'dhwaj formation' on the audience present at Kartavya Path. 31 tableaus of states and Union territories, based on the theme ‘Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas’ will roll down the Kartavya Path today. 

The gold-plated, horse-drawn buggy is a black carriage with the national emblem embossed on it in gold. The buggy, drawn by a mixed breed of Indian and Austrian horses, also features gold-plated rims, PTI reported. The presidential buggy was used for Republic Day celebrations till 1984, however, the practice was discontinued after the assassination of the former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

Earlier, PM Modi paid tributes aid tributes to martyred soldiers at the National War Memorial. He was received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and PM laid a wreath at the memorial, escorted by the Chief of Defence Staff and the three service chiefs. 

While uniformed officers gave a salute, other dignitaries observed a two-minute silence in honour of the martyred soldiers.