The Republic Day of India is a national holiday of India to mark the adoption of the Constitution of India and the transition of India from a British dominion to a republic on Jan. 26, 1950.
India's 60th Republic day celebrations began with in New Delhi with the Defense Minister AK Antony paying homage to the heroes at the India Gateway Memorial.AK Antony was standing in for the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,who is recuperating from the heart surgery.This was the first Republic day which was celebrated without the Prime Minister in India according to Indio-Asian News service.
India President Pratibha Patil saluted the marching contingents, accompanied by visiting Kazakhsthan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the chief guest on the occasion.Patil awarded the posthumously for the soldiers who died fighting in the Indian controlled Kashmir district as a token of gratitude for their gallantry.
The parade began with a contingent of the 61st Cavalry. Overhead, four Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force in a formation, showered rose petals on the hundreds of spectators.Following them were contingents of the three armed forces and the paramilitary forces.
The republic day marks the birth date of the Indian constitution i.e The day when India was called 'a republic state ' which became free from the British Dominion(constitutionally).