Rajpath in full colour

January 26, 2015 

The HinduPrime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Barack Obama at the 66th Republic Day parade in New Delhi .

United States President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama arrive at Rajpath for the Republic Day celebrations under cloud cover.

In a first, all-women contingents of the three Services march across Rajpath during this year’s parade.

12:03 pm: Republic Day parade comes to a close as tricolour balloons are released into the air.

11: 57 am: Huge applause for the Indian Nay's P-81 as it flies above Rajpath

11: 51 am: The Air-Force Flypast now begins. MI-35 helicopters fly past saluting dais at 240 kmph

11:49 am: Border Security Force's motorcycle display 'Janbaz' gets a huge round of applause! This is one of the major attractions of the parade every year.

11:48 am:

11:46 am:

11: 40 am: Students from a Saket school present a dance on India's Mars Orbiter Mission Mangalyaan

11:35 am: Prime Minister Modi's Swachh Bharat campaign shown as a dance performance by students wearing blue, black and white

11:31 am: Rajpath covered in colours as dance performances start

11:29 am: 24 children, including 4 posthumously, have been presented Bravery Medals.

11:23 am:

11:20 am: A 'Make in India' tableau shows a mechanised lion in a smart city.

11:18 am: Gujarat tableau pays tribute to Sardar Patel.

11:15 am: The Maharashtra culture goes on display.

11:12 am: Sultanpur National Park's birds displayed in Haryana tableau.

11:08 am: Dancers in traditional Sikkimese dress make their way:

11:04 am: The Assam tableau goes on Rajpath.

11:03 am: This is what the Madhya Pradesh float looks like:

11:01 am: Here's what the Goa tableau looks like. Defence Minister Manohar Parikar cheers.

11: 00 am: Cultural presentations begin. Karnataka tableau showcases wooden toys.

10: 50 am: Former PM Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and BJP CM candidate Kiran Bedi among those attending the parade.

10: 45 am: The only such band in the world, the BSF camel-mounted band marches down Rajpath. More than 75 items used in the uniforms of the camel-mounted contingent of the BSF.

10:40 am: Surface-to-air missile system, weapon locating radar among DRDO equipment rolling down Rajpath.

10: 38 am: All-women Air Force Officers contingent led by Sq. Leader Sneha Shekhawat marches now.

'Nari Shakti', the theme of this year's #RepublicDay parade, is on display on defence forces' tableaus@the_hindu— Delhi Connect (@DelhiConnect) January 26, 2015

10: 36 am: All-women Naval contingent led by Lt Cdr Priya Jayakumar marches past the dais.

10: 30 am: Combined forces band plays "Sam Bahadur" as it marches past saluting dais on Rajpath.

10: 27 am: Military bands march down Rajpath on a cold and wet morning in Delhi.

10: 25 am: All women contingents begin marching now. Read more about them here

10:25 am: Helicopters fly at 150 km/h at a height of 60 feet above Rajpath.

10: 22 am: Captain Urvashi Rana salutes President Pranab Mukherjee from T-72 tank.

10:19 am: T-90 tank rolls past saluting dais on Rajpath.

10: 17 am: Gallantry medal awardees make their way past the saluting dais on Rajpath.

61 Cavalry contingent leads the #RepublicDay parade, salutes President Pranab Mukherjee @the_hindu— Delhi Connect (@DelhiConnect) January 26, 2015

10: 15 am: Republic Day Parade commanded by Lt. Gen Subroto Mitra, the General Officer Commanding of Delhi.

10: 12 am: The Republic Day parade begins.

10: 11 am: Thousands of soldiers, artistes and students to participate in the #RepublicDay parade.

10: 08 am: President Pranab Mukherjee presents Ashok Chakra to wife of Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh.

10: 04 am: Major Mukund Varadharajan's wife Indu Rebecca Varghese receives the Ashok Chakra awarded posthumously to her husband.

10: 02 am: The Indian tri-colour is unfurled as the national anthem plays in the background.

10: 00 am: President Pranab Mukherjee arrives at the saluting base.

09: 56 am: President Obama greets Vice-President Hamid Ansari.

09: 52 am: U.S President Barack Obama's cavalcade arrives at Rajpath. The crowd cheers. He is the first US president to be the chief guest at the Republic Day.

09: 49 am: President's Guard escorts Pranab Mukherjee's cavalcade down Raisina Hill.

09: 47 am: The cavalcade moves to Rajpath where President Obama will arrive for today's parade.

09: 40 am: Also present is Chief of the Army: General Dalbir Singh.

09: 36 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cavalcade arrives at the Amar Jawan Jyoti. He pays homage to soldiers, lays a wreath at the memorial.

09: 30 am: Defence Minister Mahonar Parikkar arrives at Amar Jawan Jyoti.

09: 15 am: President Pranab Mukherjee to leave from Rashtrapati Bhavan soon for Rajpath.

09: 10 am: It's a rainy day in Delhi and the flypast by the Indian Air Force may be affected if this weather continues.

08: 45 am: So what will be on display on the parade? Mosty Russian equipment. Read here

08: 30 am: Political leaders from across the country took to social media:

गणतंत्र दिवस पर सभी देशवासियों को हार्दिक शुभकामनायें । Greetings to everyone on Republic Day.— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 26, 2015

08:20 am: Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu arrive at IG Stadium in Vijayawada to take part in Republic Day celebrations.

President Barack Obama is the first US president to visit India twice during office, and is also the first US president to be the chief guest at the Republic Day.

On Day 2 of his visit, he will witness the military might as well as cultural diversity of the nation as chief guest of the Republic Day parade at Rajpath

Students make record-breaking national flag

The 1,180 students of Sigaram Matriculation Higher Secondary School at Chettiyappanoor, near Vaniyambadi, set a world record by creating the “world’s largest national flag made with salt” on the school premises on Sunday, the eve of Republic Day. Read here

From the archives:

On January 26, the Indian state will display its might in the presence of the President of the United States, Barack Obama.Yet, to look at the ceremonial tableaux on display during the annual ritual that is performed in the heart of Delhi and assess how far we have come together as a democratic Republic would be partially incorrect and perhaps, even delusional.

The depth and spread of democracy in the last 65 years is a better measure of the performance of the state. Read here