New Delhi: Kaleidoscopic images of India's rich cultural diversity and the might of its military were on full display on the magnificent Rajpath as the nation celebrated its 60th Republic Day amid an unprecedented security cover.
An impressive and colourful parade, a traditional attraction of the national event, marched down the thoroughfare connecting the Rashtrapati Bhawan and the historic India Gate as President Pratibha Patil took the salute from marching contingents.
Armed forces in battle regalia proudly marching before their supreme commander, scintillating show of air power fascinating tableaux depicting the diverse culture and hundreds of colourfully-dressed dancing school children were part of the parade.
The march-past was watched by the Republic Day chief guest Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Defence Minister A K Antony and the country's top political and military brass, including UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, besides a large enthusiastic crowd that had gathered on either sides of the Rajpath.
As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is recuperating from his bypass surgery in All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Antony performed all the customary duties of the Prime Minister during the Republic Day celebration.
Minutes before the parade began, Antony and chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force laid wreaths at 'Amar Jawan Jyoti', the British-era World War-I memorial at India Gate, where an eternal flame burns in memory of those who laid down their lives while defending the nation's frontiers.
It was a sombre beginning to the Republic day celebrations as Maharashtra Police ATS chief Hemant Karkare, Additional Commissioner Ashok Kamte and four others killed fighting Pakistani terrorists in Mumbai were among nine security personnel honoured with the Ashok Chakra on Monday.
Mumbai Police Inspector Vijay Salaskar and Assistant Sub-Inspector Tukaram Ombale, who had nabbed the surviving Mumbai attack terrorist, apart from NSG commandoes Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Havildar Gajender Singh were also honoured with the highest peace time gallantry medal posthumously for their acts of bravery during the November 26 strikes.
While the awards for Karkare, Salaskar and Ombale were received by their wives, a tearful mother of Unnikrishnan received the award.
Delhi police inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, who died fighting terrorists in the Batla House operation in the capital in September last year, was also conferred with the award posthumously.
Army Colonel Jojan Thomas, the Commanding Officer of 45 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Forces commando Havildar Bahadur Singh Bohra of 10 Parachute Regiment, who were killed in separate counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir, were also honoured with the medal by President Pratibha Patil.
Members of families of Orissa Armed Police Special Operation Group Assistant Commandant P K Satapathy and Meghalaya Police's R P Diengdoh, who were posthumously named for the medal on August 15 last year for fighting insurgents in their respective states, also received the award.
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