NEW DELHI/ RANCHI: As a mark of respect to visiting French President Francois Hollande, who will be the Guest of Honour at the Republic Day parade next week, a 136-member contingent of the French military will be given pride of place as the first marching contingent of the parade on Rajpath. It will be the first time that a foreign military contingent will be participating in the R-Day parade.
On Monday, the French contingent carried out a rehearsal at Rajpath. They will march in two groups, including a French Air Force Military Band, according to a defence ministry official.
“In all, 80 personnel from the French Army and 56 personnel of the band will be part of the 136-member French contingent. Their contingent has been put ahead of any Indian armed forces contingent,” an official added.
At the rehearsal, the soldiers of the French army were seen marching to drum beats at Rajpath in perfect synchrony.
Though this is the first time the French first contingent is participating in the January 26 parade in India, soldiers of the Maratha light infantry regiment of the Indian army had marched shoulder to shoulder with the French army back in 2009 at Champs Elysees.
This time, the length of the parade has been cut short by nearly 20 minutes compared to last year. No decorated camel contingent from the Border Security Force will be participating. However, a contingent of sniffer dogs of the Indian army will be part of the R-Day parade for the first time in 26 years.
Largest Tricolour in Ranchi
Ahead of Republic Day, India will get its largest tricolour, 66 ft in height and 99 ft in width, to be hoisted on a 293 ft tall pole in Ranchi. To be hoisted by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on January 23, the flag will be taller than the Qutub Minar.
The Minister is scheduled to hoist the flag in the presence of Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das and other state officials. The event will coincide with the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.