2021 India Republic Day parade curtailed by COVID-19 |
Many events that were a regular feature of the Republic Day Celebrations in the national capital will be missing this year owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and the social distancing measures. A popular event that drew crowds and cheers like stunts on motorcycles by the army and the personnel of the paramilitary forces has been canceled this year. The veterans` parade by ex-servicemen and women, too, has been canceled, and so is the parade by recipients of the national bravery awards. In the 2020 Republic Day parade, veterans as old as 99 and 100 years had participated in the parade and the motorcycle stunts were performed by women officers of the Central Reserve Police Force. Officials said these events were canceled because the elderly and children are more susceptible to contract Covid-19. The total number of the enclosures has been reduced from 36 to 22. The number of attendees will be 25,000 as against 150,000 until last year. Only 4,000 entries will be through tickets, the others would be invitation-based. No children below the age of 15 years would be allowed at the venue on the India Gate lawns on January 26. Police personnel who will be at the gates and in charge of frisking will be wearing personal protective equipment suits and will carry thermal scanners. Officers from the security unit, who will guard the VIPs, will undergo Covid-19 testing and are already in quarantine for seven days before the Republic Day function. Another change is that only the tableaux will go to the Red Fort. The parade will culminate at the National Stadium at the C-Hexagon of India Gate. But there is an addition as well this year. At least 122 soldiers of the Bangladesh Armed Forces will be taking part in the parade. This is only the third time since Independence that a foreign military contingent has been invited to participate in the national parade.
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