In a heartwarming display of cultural camaraderie, the Russian embassy in New Delhi added a unique touch to the celebrations for India’s 75th Republic Day. Embassy staffers, professional dancers, and children dressed in colorful Indian attire came together to dance to a popular song from the Hindi movie “Gadar: Ek Prem Katha.”

“Happy Republic Day, #India! From Russia with love,” the Russian embassy expressed in a tweet, sharing a video of the joyful celebration on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.

Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov joined in the festivities, extending warm greetings on the momentous occasion. In his message, Alipov praised the enduring friendship between Russia and India, saying, “Warmest congratulations on the #RepublicDay, India! Wishing our Indian friends prosperity, well-being, and a very bright #AmritKaal! Long live #Bharat! Long live Rusi-Bharatiya Dosti!”

The celebrations in New Delhi also included the annual Republic Day parade held at Kartavya Path. This year, the parade featured France’s President Emmanuel Macron as the chief guest, and it was notably women-centric, with ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Bharat-Loktantra ki Matruka’ as the main themes.

For the first time, an all-women tri-services contingent participated in the parade, showcasing the strength and capabilities of women troops from the Indian Army’s military police, along with women from the other two services.

The 90-minute spectacle showcased India’s military prowess and rich cultural heritage. Among the displays were the T-90 Bhishma tank, NAG missile system, infantry combat vehicle, all-terrain vehicle, weapon locating radar system ‘Swathi,’ drone jammer system, and medium-range surface-to-air missile presented by the Indian Army.

Sixteen tableaux from states and Union territories, along with nine from central ministries and departments, were featured at the Republic Day parade in 2024. The participating states and Union territories included Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Ladakh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana, each contributing to the vibrant and diverse display of India’s cultural mosaic.

The celebration not only highlighted the grandeur of the Republic Day parade but also showcased the international bonds of friendship as the Russian embassy joined in the festivities with a heartfelt dance performance, symbolizing the enduring spirit of cultural unity between Russia and India.