The parade held at the Kartavya Path in New Delhi on January 26 is the grandest of all those held across the country on Republic Day, showcasing both India's rich cultural heritage and military prowess.
Republic Day celebrates the day India's most important document, its Constitution, came into force in 1950.
While live coverage will begin from 9:00 AM onwards, the parade itself will begin at around 9:30 AM on Monday, right after President Droupadi Murmu unfurls the flag.
The parade can be livestreamed on Doordarshan (and its YouTube channel), All India Radio's YouTube channel, as well as on official government websites. Most TV news channels and their websites will also stream the event with live commentary.
The weather at the Kartavya Path on Monday is expected to be partly cloudy and chilly, as per the latest India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin. It has also predicted shallow to moderate fog and 90 per cent humidity in the morning.
President Murmu will preside over the parade, with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Union President Ursula von der Leyen to be the chief guests this year. This reflects India's growing ties with the EU, ahead of the announcement of the 'mother of all' deals with the bloc at the 16th India-EU Summit on Tuesday.
The central theme for the parade this year will be '150 years of Vande Mataram', India's national song, which was also adopted in 1950—just two days before the adoption of the Constitution—but composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875.
A series of paintings created by Tejendra Kumar Mitra in 1923, which illustrate the verses of 'Vande Mataram', will be displayed as view-cutters along Kartavya Path during the parade.
The parade will take place along a 5km stretch from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the India Gate, featuring various contingents of the Armed Forces, in addition to 30 tableaux (17 from states/UTs and 13 from ministries). About 2,500 cultural artists will take part in the parade in various capacities, reinforcing the themes of 'Vande Bharat' and 'Atmanirbhar India' (self-reliant India).
For those attending the parade in person, the gates will open at 7:00 AM, so it is advised to come early, as security checks will take place. Tickets will cost about Rs 20-100 per person, and can be booked on the official Aamantran website.
Another of the main functions of the parade is to honour the Armed Forces and other citizens with gallantry awards. The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) is also presented to children who have demonstrated exceptional abilities and outstanding achievements across seven categories—Bravery, Art & Culture, Environment, Innovation, Science & Technology, Social Service and Sports.
The parade will end with the Indian Air Force's stunning flypast as its jets paint the skies over the parade in saffron, white, and green.