Cultural heritage, military might on display on 68th Republic Day

New Delhi: The 68th Republic Day Parade showcases India's military strength and achievements in a range of areas and its diverse culture at the Rajpath in New Delhi.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the Chief Guest of the Republic Day parade.

Here are the highlights:

• SU 30 MKI fly past in Trishool formation.
  
• Jaguars fly in arrow-head formation.
  
• C-17, Sukhoi 30S, fly-past in globe formation.
• 3 C-130 super Hercules fly-past giving aerial salute to President, chief guest.
  
• 3 Mi-35S in VIC formation fly-past the Rajpath.
• Military police 'daredevils' perform mesmerising bike stunts.
  
• The 'Shwet Ashwa police' daredevils perform mesmerising bike stunts.
  
• Saila dance of Gond tribe from Madhya Pradesh performed by school children.
  
• Tableau showing skill India's skill development transformation.
  
• Tableau showing the importance of green India, clean India.
  
• Tableau showing achievements of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR).
  
• Tableau showing the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
  
• The tableau of micro, small and medium enterprises showing the importance of Khadi.
  
• Tableau showing the benefits of GST.
  
• Tableau of Jammu and Kashmir showing serene valleys of Gulmarg.
  
• Goa tableau showing the sun, sand and music.
  
• Tripura tableau showing the local traditions.
  
• Punjab's tableau showing a burst of colours and harvest festival.
  
• Tamil Nadu's colourful tableau showing karagattam temple dance form.
  
• West Bengal's tableau showing durga pooja.
  
• Haryana tableau showing 'beti bachao beti padhao'.
  
• Delhi tableau showing the importance of education.
  
• Tableau showing Arunachal Pradesh's famous Yak dance.
  
• Tableau showing the shiviite culture of Karnataka.
  
• The tableau representing the colourful celebrations of Gujarat's Rann of Kutch.
  
• Tableau from Maharashtra showing the birth anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak.
  
• Odisha tableau, representing the dol jatra fest, marches down the saluting dais.
  
• NSG commandos march past the saluting dais.
  
• Indian Coast Guard, CRPF march past the saluting dais.
  
• BSF camel mounted regiment offer their salute to the President and the Chief guest.
  
• The Indian Air Force tableau marches down the Rajpath.
  
• IAF band playing 'galaxy riders' marches down the Rajpath
  
• Veterans tableau, the first tableau, marches down the Rajpath.
  
• The combined band of the Punjab regimental Centre and Sikh regimental Centre march down the Rajpath.
  
• Mechanised infantry regiment march past the saluting dais, offer salute to the President.
  
• Transportable satellite vehicles, Akash weapons system, march down the Rajpath.
• Infantry combat vehicles salute to the President and the Chief Guest.
  
• Contingent of UAE soldiers, along with its music band lead the parade.
  
• Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane leads the Republic Day parade.
  
• Posthumous Ashok Chakra conferred to hawaldar Hangpan Dada.
• Tricolour unfurled at Rajpath.
  
• President Pranab Mukherjee arrives at Rajpath with chief guest Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
  
• Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari arrives at Rajpath and is greeted by Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.
  
• Narendra Modi arrives at Rajpath, received by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and the three military service chiefs.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with 3 military service chiefs lays ceremonial wreath on the Amar Jawan Jyoti at the India Gate.

Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel are keeping a tight vigil on Republic Day with an eye on the movement of animals in view of intelligence inputs that terror groups might use them as suicide bombers.

People braved chilly weather and a light rain to witness the Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath. The skies were overcast in the morning and later there was a drizzle.