Srinagar: With Covid-19 protocols in place and the protesting farmers’ tractor march scheduled in the national capital, the 72nd Republic Day parade has begun in New Delhi.
A total of 32 tableaux — 17 of various states and UTs, nine of ministries and six from the defence arm — are being displayed at the Rajpath this year. The tableaux of Ladakh –the Union Territory that was created in 2019 after bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir – will be included for the first time.
Kargil has announced that it will not participate in this year’s official republic day celebrations to express its resentment for the non inclusion of Kargil’s cultural symbols in Ladakh’s tableaux.
Meanwhile, the spectator size at the Delhi parade 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. Also, all members of the tableaux contingents from various states, ministries and government departments have undergone Covid testing.