New Delhi:-India marked its 77th Republic Day with grandeur and national pride at Kartavya Path, as President Droupadi Murmu unfurled the Tricolour on Monday morning. The President arrived in a traditional ceremonial buggy, escorted by the President’s Bodyguard (Rashtrapati ke Angrakshak).
This year’s celebrations were made special by the presence of two distinguished global leaders — Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Antonio Luís Santos da Costa, President of the European Council — who attended as chief guests.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the nation’s fallen heroes by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial near India Gate. He was joined by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Air Chief Marshal APS Singh, and Naval Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi.
The highlight of the ceremony was the grand parade featuring 30 colourful tableaux — 17 from States and Union Territories and 13 from various Ministries, Departments, and Services.
This year’s theme combined the spirit of patriotism and progress:
“Swatantrata ka Mantra: Vande Mataram” and “Samriddhi ka Mantra: Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”
The displays beautifully showcased 150 years of the national song “Vande Mataram”, alongside India’s journey toward self-reliance, innovation, and development. Together, they reflected the nation’s cultural richness, unity, and growing global confidence.
