Dynamite News
70th Republic Day celebrations begin
Celebrations for the 70th Republic Day began Saturday with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in attendance as the chief guest, amid heavy security deployment in the city.
New Delhi: Celebrations for the 70th Republic Day began Saturday with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in attendance as the chief guest, amid heavy security deployment in the city.
Prime Minister #NarendraModi pays tribute at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate. #RepublicDayIndia #RepublicDay
Posted by Dynamite News on Friday, January 25, 2019
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his tributes to the martyrs by laying a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti in the presence of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the three service chiefs.
Later Modi, wearing his traditional kurta pajama and trademark Nehru jacket, reached the Rajpath and received and greeted President Ram Nath Kovind and the chief guest.
President, Vice President and this year's chief guest South African President @CyrilRamaphosa arrive for the #RepublicDay2019 ceremony pic.twitter.com/uv3yXFYnzk
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) January 26, 2019
At the unfurling of the tricolour, the band played the national anthem with a 21-gun salute fired in the background.
Most of the ministers of the Modi government, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, and former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and Deve Gowda, Congress veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad were among those present on the occasion.
#RepublicDay2019: The tableaux of Sikkim at Rajpath pic.twitter.com/GC1r9zZgFI
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) January 26, 2019
The overall theme for the Republic Day celebrations this year is the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and tableaux of many states, themed on the iconic freedom fighter, are lined up for the occasion.