ASEAN leaders to witness India's military might, cultural diversity at Republic Day parade

There will be a march past by the Army personnel carrying the ASEAN flag at the Republic Day parade, where 23 tableaux, including those representing various states, ministries, the All India Radio (AIR) among others, will roll down the Rajpath.

The ASEAN, founded in 1967, comprises Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei.

The ASEAN leaders, here to attend the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit, will be the chief guests at the Republic Day parade which was termed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "historic and unprecedented".

A motorcycle contingent of women personnel of the BSF will showcase their skills for the first time at the parade, where supreme commander of the Indian armed forces President Ram Nath Kovind will take the salute.

The Army personnel will also carry the flags of the 10 ASEAN nations. There will also be a flypast by MI-17 and RUDRA armed helicopters along with a number of IAF aircraft.

Five Mi-17 V5 helicopters of the Indian Air Force, showering petals and carrying the national flag, ASEAN flag and services flags, would precede parade commander Lt Gen Asit Mistry, the General Officer Commanding (Delhi Area).

A camel contingent of the BSF and columns of the 61st cavalry with 51 horses will be part of the parade.

For the first time a tableau of All India Radio will be leading a series of 23 tableaux during the parade and it will feature Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly address 'Mann Ki Baat'.

An Income Tax Department tableau about special anti-black money drive launched post-demonetisation is also on the list of many firsts.

The Navy will showcase Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant, which will be commissioned in 2020 and the Defence Development and Research Organisation will exhibit the 'Nirbhay' missile and the Ashwini radar system.

Three T-90 tanks, two BRAHMOS missiles, two AKASH missiles will also be part of the mechanised columns at the parade.

On behalf of the central government, around 61 tribal guests from various parts of the country have been invited to witness the Republic Day celebrations.