AP

India’s Republic Day parade curtailed amid COVID-19

Jan 25, 2022, 9:55 AM | Updated: Jan 26, 2022, 12:04 am

Members of Assam Police battalion wearing masks as a precaution against coronavirus take part in th...

Members of Assam Police battalion wearing masks as a precaution against coronavirus take part in the Republic Day parade in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. The day marks the anniversary of the adoption of the country’s constitution in 1950. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

(AP Photo/Anupam Nath)


              Rajpath, the ceremonial boulevard for Republic Day parade leading to landmark war memorial India Gate, is barricaded during preparations  in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
            
              Indian paramilitary soldiers stand guard near a police barricade on Rajpath, the ceremonial boulevard, ahead of Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
            
              Rajpath, the ceremonial boulevard for Republic Day parade leading to landmark war memorial India Gate, is barricaded during preparations for Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
            
              Indian paramilitary soldiers stand guard near a police barricade on Rajpath, the ceremonial boulevard, ahead of Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
            
              Security personnel stand in the middle of Rajpath, the ceremonial boulevard for Republic Day parade as north and south blocks, the government seat of power, are illuminated for the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
            
              Dozens of drones fly forming India's map on the eve of Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
            
              Rajpath, the ceremonial boulevard for Republic Day parade as north and south blocks, the government seat of power, are illuminated for the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
            
              Security personnel stand in the middle of Rajpath, the ceremonial boulevard for Republic Day parade as north and south blocks, the government seat of power, are illuminated for the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
            
              Rajpath, the ceremonial boulevard for Republic Day parade leading to landmark war memorial India Gate, is barricaded on the eve of Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
            
              Dozens of drones display "75th Anniversary of Indian Independence' on the eve of Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
            
              Indian Railway Protection Force personnel take selfie before marching during Republic Day celebrations in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
            
              Indian Railway Protection Force personnel march during Republic Day celebrations in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
            
              Assam Police battalion takes part in the Republic Day parade in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
            
              Assam Police women commandos take part in the Republic Day parade in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
            
              Members of Assam Police battalion wearing masks as a precaution against coronavirus take part in the Republic Day parade in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. The day marks the anniversary of the adoption of the country’s constitution in 1950. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

NEW DELHI (AP) — Thousands of people braved a morning chill Wednesday on a ceremonial boulevard in India’s capital to watch a display of the country’s military power and cultural diversity, but the colorful annual Republic Day spectacle was curtailed amid COVID-19.

Nearly 500 schoolchildren, folk dancers, police and military battalions, floats and stunt performers on motorbikes paraded from the presidential palace down the refurbished tree-lined boulevard of Rajpath.

President Ram Nath Kovind received salutes from the marching columns, which included a camel-mounted regiment with its mustachioed riders led by shiny brass bands with tubas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, government ministers and foreign diplomats applauded the performers.

The 90-minute parade ended with a flypast featuring 75 air force fighters, including Rafale jets, transport planes and helicopters.

Republic Day marks the anniversary of the adoption of the country’s constitution on Jan. 26, 1950. India won independence from British colonial rule in 1947.

The parade started half an hour late to ensure better visibility for participants and of the flypast. Authorities also shortened the parade route, which normally culminates at the 17th century Red Fort after marching through various districts.

The number of people watching the parade was limited and included only fully vaccinated adults and children over 15 who have had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. All spectators were required to wear masks and observe social distance.

Omicron infections have begun declining in big cities like New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, and authorities are now focused on curbing infections in smaller cities, towns and villages.

On Wednesday, the Health Ministry reported 285,000 new cases, including both delta and omicron variants, and 665 deaths across the country in the past 24 hours, with a test positivity rate of 16.16%.

India’s government also announced civilian awards in art, trade, literature, science, social work and other fields. Satya Narayana Nadella and Sundararajan Pichai, the Indian-born American CEOs of Microsoft and Alphabet Inc. and its subsidiary Google, respectively, were among those honored.

Indian media reports said the country had planned to invite leaders of five Central Asian countries — including Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan — as guests at the Republic Day parade, but canceled the plan due to the pandemic. Modi will hold a virtual summit with the leaders of these countries on Thursday to discuss the evolving regional security situation, including with regard to Afghanistan.

India traditionally invites foreign leaders to witness the parade. Former French President Francois Hollande was the guest of honor in 2016 and former U.S. President Barack Obama viewed it in 2015. Ten Southeast Asian leaders watched the parade in 2018.

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