India celebrated its 77th Republic Day with a grand parade at Kartavya Path in New Delhi on January 26, 2026, highlighting the nation’s cultural diversity, economic progress, and military strength. President Droupadi Murmu led the celebrations, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage at the National War Memorial. The President arrived with the chief guests — European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen — and unfurled the national flag, followed by the National Anthem and a 21-gun salute.
This year’s celebration focused on the themes ‘Swatantrata ka Mantra: Vande Mataram’ and ‘Samriddhi ka Mantra: Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. Thirty tableaux from states, union territories, and central ministries showcased India’s cultural richness, the legacy of Vande Mataram, and the nation’s progress in self-reliance. The military display featured major platforms including BrahMos, Akash systems, the Suryastra rocket launcher, and Main Battle Tank Arjun, along with a tri-services tableau depicting Operation Sindoor.
President Murmu awarded Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force with the Ashoka Chakra, the highest peacetime gallantry award. The celebrations concluded with a flypast of 29 aircraft including Rafale, Su-30, C-295, Mig-29 and Apache helicopters. Over 2,500 artists performed, and the event was attended by special invitees from diverse fields.
