New normal at Republic Day parade: No motorcycle stunts, no bravery awards, fewer spectators

A unit of Garhwal Rifles regiment at the full dress rehearsal on Saturday. (Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)

The pandemic has also led to several changes in the way Republic Day celebrations will be held. While gravity-defying stunts by motorcycle-borne men will be missing, the spectator size too has been reduced to 25,000 from around 1.25 lakh last year. The parade of children who receive bravery awards will also be missing. Keeping in mind social distancing, the size of marching contingents has been reduced from 144 to 96.

A total of 32 tableaux — 17 of various states and UTs, nine of ministries and six from the defence arm — will be seen going down Rajpath this year. They will stop at National Stadium instead of following the regular route to the Red Fort. The Uttar Pradesh tableau will feature a replica of the Ram Temple being built in Ayodhya, among other things. Among the departments, the Department of Biotechnology will showcase pre-trial and post-trial phases of the manufacturing of the Covid vaccine in India.

Model of Ram Temple included in the UP Tableau for the forthcoming Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Friday. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

For the first time in 55 years, there will also be no chief guest at this year’s parade, after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed “regret” that he would not be able to visit India.

All participants are getting Covid-19 tests

All members of the tableaux contingents from various states, ministries and government departments have undergone Covid testing.

The contingent of 61 Cavalry will be led by a horse that has attended the parade for the last 18 years. The horse is 21 years old, a year older than when the animal usually retires.The contingent from Bangladesh will mark the third instance of a military contingent from a friendly foreign nation participating in the parade — the first was France in 2016, and then UAE in 2017.

NSG commandos during the full dress rehearsal for the upcoming Republic Day Parade, in New Delhi, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021. (PTI Photo/Atul Yadav)

Ninety per cent of the Territorial Army’s contingent comprises people from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, who are coming to the mainland for the first time.

(with PTI inputs)