India celebrated its 77th Republic Day on Monday (January 26, 2026) with a grand display of military prowess and cultural heritage, as missiles, armed forces battalions and artists competed for attention at the Kartavya Path. While the 150th year celebrations of the National Song, Vande Mataram, was the prominent theme, the event also celebrated the country’s successes during last year’s “Operation Sindoor”.
President Droupadi Murmu presided over the event in Delhi while President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the President of European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen graced the occasion as chief guests. Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted Ms. Murmu and the chief guests, who arrived in traditional horse-drawn buggies, at the podium. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and several other Union Ministers, the military’s top brass, foreign diplomats and senior officials were among the spectators.
The celebrations began with Ms. Murmu conferring India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, Ashoka Chakra, on Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla for being the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station in June 2024.
Over 100 artistes came together to kick start the celebration on the theme of Vividata Mein Ekta (Unity in Diversity), performing with traditional musical instruments from across the country, to demonstrate the nation’s rich cultural diversity.
The parade was led by Parade Commander Lieutenant-General Bhavnish Kumar, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, a second-generation officer.
A tri-services tableau showcased replicas of major weapon systems deployed by the defence forces during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. The theme continued as the day progressed, as a variety of weapons that were used during the operation, including BrahMos missiles, Akash missile systems and S-400 systems, were displayed. The air show featured a Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter with an “Operation Sindoor” flag, while the Indian Air Force staged a spectacular flypast, with Rafale, Sukhoi, MiG-29 and Jaguar aircraft flying in a “Sindoor formation”.
The Suryastra universal rocket launcher system, Main Battle Tank Arjun, Dhanush artillery guns and Divyastra battery were also on display.
The 77th Republic Day celebration also saw the parade debut of the newly-raised Bhairav Battalion, a specialised assault infantry unit aimed at bridging the capabilities of conventional infantry and special forces.
In addition, a military contingent from the European Union, carrying its military staff flag and flags of Operations Atalanta and Aspides, and the naval operations of the grouping, also participated in the parade. It was the EU’s first participation in such an event outside of Europe.
A total of 30 tableaux -- 17 of States and Union Territories and 13 of various Ministries and Departments, rolled down the Kartavya Path. Showcasing India’s first Water Metro, the Kerala’s tableau also depicted the State’s achievement of 100% digital literacy and green mobility, rural prosperity and women-led digital empowerment. Chhattisgarh’s tableau, themed “The Mantra of Freedom, Vande Mataram”, paid tribute to tribal freedom fighters and featured Veer Gundadhur of the 1910 Bhumkal Rebellion and Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh, the State’s first martyr.
Uttar Pradesh showcased the cultural landscape of Bundelkhand, including the Ekamukha Linga of Kalinjar, while Gujarat’s tableau too highlighted Vande Mataram and honoured Bhikaji Cama, underlining the State’s role in the freedom movement and the spirit of swadeshi and self-reliance. The tableaux also included defence preparedness, disaster resilience, and education reforms under the National Education Policy, skill development, urban transformation, cultural heritage, and technological self-reliance.
The Ministry of Home Affairs’ tableau showcased the enactment of three new criminal laws that came into force on July 1, 2024, replacing the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act. The Culture Ministry marked 150 years of Vande Mataram, depicting its composition by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, a British-era recording, and renditions of the song across different generations, including GenZ. Centred on a PM SHRI school, the School Education Department’s tableau showed the evolution of India’s knowledge systems under the National Education Policy 2020.
More than 10,000 guests from different walks of life attended the celebration. This year, the enclosures for the parade were named after the rivers flowing across the nation - Beas, Brahmaputra, Chambal, Chenab, Gandak, Ganga, Ghagra, Godavari, Sindhu, Jhelum, Kaveri, Kosi, Krishna, Mahanadi, Narmada, Pennar, Periyar, Ravi, Sone, Sutlej, Teesta, Vaigai and Yamuna.
Curated by Dr. Elena Rodriguez
