India, Jan. 24 -- The Republic Day parade is always a sight to behold, with several tableaux putting India's rich heritage and culture from across all regions on beautiful display but tied together with a central theme, which for this year is also what dominated the last Parliament Winter Session - 150 years of Vande Mataram, the national song.

Along with Vande Mataram, the Republic Day 2026 celebrations carried out on Delhi's Kartavya Path, will also be a blend of India's military might and cultural diversity, according to the defence ministry, with President of the European Council Mr Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen as chief guests for this year's parade.

According to Vivek Agarwal, secretar...