Millions of Indians tuned in to watch a colorful display of India's military power and culture in the capital city, New Delhi. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was in attendance as the guest of honor.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Nath
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India celebrates 70th Republic Day
Millions of Indians tuned in to watch a colorful display of the country's military power and culture in the capital city. The event marks the day in 1950 that India's first post-colonial constitution took effect.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Nath
All eyes on New Delhi
India's capital city hosted the largest Republic Day parade. The day marks the date in 1950 when India's first post-independence constitution took effect. The country had declared its independence from the British Empire three years earlier.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Swarup
Military prowess
The Indian military plays an important role in the yearly celebrations, with soldiers, tanks and missiles often seen rolling down the ceremonial boulevard in the capital New Delhi. In Kolkata, a helicopter showered a Republic Day parade with flower petals.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/B. Das
Colorful parades
Military groups displayed colorful traditional headwear and military gear in the main parade in New Delhi. Here, Indian paramilitary soldiers march along the ceremonial boulevard. The parade ended with a dramatic flyover by the Indian air force.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Swarup
Display of diversity
Groups of men, women and children wearing regional clothing held traditional performances throughout the country. Here, a schoolgirl holds a tricolor national flag during a performance in Jammu-Kashmir. Separatist militants in the state had called for strikes during the celebrations, but there were no reports of any violence in either state.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/C. Anand
Remembering an icon
The theme this year was Mahatma Gandhi, India's pro-Independence leader. Ghandi, who spent some of his formative years in South Africa, advocated for peaceful means to achieve Indian secession from the British Empire. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the New Delhi parade as the guest of honor.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Rahi
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Thousands of onlookers watched a parade of India's military equipment and cultural heritage in New Delhi on Saturday, as the country celebrated its 70th Republic Day.
Soldiers in colorful military gear, camel-mounted border guards, tanks, missiles and groups of men, women and children wearing traditional regional clothing were part of the vibrant parade that marched down the ceremonial boulevard in the capital city.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attended as the guest of honor after US President Donald Trump declined the invitation, citing a scheduling problem.
Some 25,000 police and other security forces were on duty throughout the city to guard the event.
Other Indian states held similar parades to mark the occasion. Separatist militants in Jammu-Kashmir and Manipur had called for strikes during the celebrations, but there were no reports of any violence in either state.
Thousands lined the ceremonial boulevard to observe the festivitiesImage: picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Swarup
Celebrating Gandhi
The celebration marks the date in 1950 when India's first post-independence constitution entered force, three years after India seceded from the British Empire.
Many groups parading down the boulevard in New Delhi celebrated Mahatma Gandhi, the pro-Independence leader who became synonymous with India's fight for self-determination.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of Gandhi's birth. Gandhi had a strong connection to South Africa, where his experience under the Apartheid regime had a strong impact on his political thought.
