Girl scouts marching in the parade in Chndigarh. (Express Photo by Sahil Walia)
As India celebrates its 69th year of becoming a Republic, functions are being organised across the country to mark the day. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and leaders of ASEAN nations attend the Republic Day parade in the national capital, in states across the country, Governors and Chief Ministers will take the salute.
Addressing the nation on the eve of the Republic Day, President Ram Nath Kovind defined every citizen as a pillar of the Republic — the soldier who defends, the farmer who feeds, the mother who nurtures, the doctor who heals, the scientist who innovates to the wise tribal who conserves ecology to the youth in whom lie the energy and in children who dream — the President identified “selflessness” at the heart of the “national project.”
Republic Day 2018 Parade LIVE UPDATES
Here is what is happening across the country
01:23 pm: Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani took part in celebrations at Mehsana on the ocasion of Republic Day.
CM Vijay Rupani during the Republic day celebrations. (Twitter/AIR)
01:10 pm: Former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s elder brother Mohammed Muthu Maraikayar unfurled the national flag at Kalam House on Friday to mark the day. Late APJ Abdul Kalam became the President of India in 2002.
Former President’s brother unfurling the national flag at Kalam House. (Source: Twitter/ANI)
12:35 pm: Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao said that the state registered an average economic growth of nine per cent over the last four years. Rao was addressing a gathering at Shivaji Park after reviewing an impressive parade to mark the 69th Republic Day.
12:21 pm: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan took part in Republic Day celebrations in Guna on Friday and reviewed the parade.
CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Guna on Republic Day. (Source: Twitter/ANI)
12:18 pm: India High Commissioner to Bhutan took the salute and unfurled the national flag in Thimpu on the occasion of Republic Day.
Celebrations at Indian Embassy, Thimphu. (Source: Twitter/AIR)
12:15 pm: Sweets exchanged between troops of the Border Security Force and Border Guards, Bangladesh at Fulbari post on Republic Day.
Officers exchanging sweets at the border. (Source: ANI/Twitter)
11:48 am: Republic Day parade was today organised at the Sher-i-Kashmir stadium in Kashmir. Students along with police and other contingents participated in the celebrations.
Students take the salute in the parade on Friday. (Source: Twitter/ANI)
11:34 am: Police, home guards and NCC contingents were among the participants in the parades taken out in district headquarters in the Haryana and Punjab and their joint capital Chandigarh.
11:31 am: Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad unfurled the tri-colour and took the salute at the Republic Day function at the Polo ground. Addressing on the occasion the Governor said, “Adventure tourism activities are being encouraged and a number of adventure destinations providing activities like zip lining, scuba diving, trekking, mountain biking, river rafting and camping.”
11:26 am: Republic Day celebrations were organised in Leh to mark the 69 years of Indian Republic.
(Source: Twitter/ANI)
11:05 am: Haryana CM ML Khattar unfurled the national flag in Rohtak on the occasion of Republic Day.
CM ML Khattar unfurling the flower. (Source: ANI/Twitter)
10:52 am: Republic Day celebrations are being organised in Guru Nanak Dev Stadium in Ludhiana.
A parade was organised in Ludhiana to mark the day. (Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh)
10:42 am: Republic day celebrations are underway at Parade ground in sector 17 Chandigarh to mark 69 years of Indian Republic.
Girl scouts marching in the parade in Chndigarh. (Express Photo by Sahil Walia)
10:41 am: Governor Banwarilal Purohit led the 69th Republic Day celebrations in Tamil Nadu today, unfurling
the Indian tricolour at the Marina.
10:40 am: Unfurling the Tri-colour at Indira Gandhi Park, Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig (Retd) Dr B D Mishra urged the people to take a collective pledge to uphold the values enshrined in the Constitution while preserving the proud tribal culture and heritage.
10:35 am: Addressing the 69th Republic Day function at the Assam Rifles ground after unfurling the tricolour Mizoram Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma congratulated the people of the state, NGOs, religious institutions and media for being committed to protect peace and harmony.
10:32 am: West bengal Governor Kesri nath Tripathi took the salute and reviewed the parade on the ocassion of Republic Day in Kolkata.
West bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi. (Source: Twitter/ANI)
10:03 am: In Patna, Gandhi Maidan witnessed the state parade to mark the 69th Republic Day.
Parade underway at Patna in Gandhi Maidan. (Source: Twitter/ANI)
10:00 am: BJP President Amit Shah took the salute at BJP HQ in New Delhi and unfurled the national flag to mark 69the Republic Day.
BJP President Amit Shah taking salute at BJP HQ in Delhi. (Source: Twitter/ANI)
9:48 am: Chief Minister Raman Singh took the salute on the occasion of RepublicDay celebrations in Bastar.
9:45 am: Parade marked the 69th Republic Day celebrations in Kerala.
Governor Justice P Sathasivam reviewed the parade in Thiruvananthapuram. (Source: Twitter/ANI)
9:40 am: In a change, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat unfurled the national flag at a school in Kerala’s Palakkad instead of RSS HQ in Nagpur.
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat at a school in Pallakad. (Source: ANI/Twitter)
9:37 am: Home Minister Rajnath Singh unfurled the tricolour at his residence in Delhi on Republic Day.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh saluting the tricolour at his residence. (Source: Twitter/ANI)
9:30 am: In Assam, Governor Jagdish Mukhi unfurled the National Flag to mark the RepublicDay celebrations in Guwahati.
Governor Jagdish Mukhi unfurls National Flag at RepublicDay celebrations in Guwahati. (Source: ANI/Twitter)