Jaipur, Dec. 23 -- With the 78th Army Day Parade marching into the Pink City for the first time on January 15, 2026, Jaipur's royal grandeur will transform into a living canvas of India's martial pride. More than a ceremonial spectacle, the parade will stand as a resounding tribute to Rajputana's timeless warrior spirit and the Indian Army's advancing excellence. Against the iconic backdrop of forts and palaces that once echoed with sagas of valour, today's soldiers will stand as heirs to a code forged in courage, honour, and moral discipline. In this confluence of heritage and modernity, the Rajputana ethos-honour before self, courage under fire, and pride without compromise-continues to inspire the spirit, resilience, and combat finesse of India's armed forces. Rajputana's rich martial heritage is rooted in the rugged geography of Rajasthan, spanning the hills of Mewar, the deserts of Marwar, and Shekhawati's cultural heartland, which shaped resilient warriors attuned to their environment. Legendary figures such as Maharana Pratap of Mewar, Sawai Man Singh of Jaipur, and Prithviraj Singh Chauhan of Ajmer exemplified this spirit-marked by bravery, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to their motherland. This ethos was bound by a strict code of honour, where warriors chose valour or death over disgrace, adhering to righteous warfare traditions such as saka. The forts of Amer, Mehrangarh and Jaisalmer stand as monumental testaments to Rajput valour, their martial traditions immortalised by historians like Colonel James Tod in The Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan. Today, that legacy continues to inspire the Indian Army as it meets contemporary challenges across multiple domains of warfare. The decisive success of Operation Sindoor 1.0 marks a new chapter for the Army, making Jaipur an apt stage for the 2026 Army Day Parade - celebrating both valorous heritage and modern military strength. The parade will highlight Rajasthan's enduring legacy and the seamless bond between Rajputana courage and the Army's evolving resolve and capabilities. The Rajputana code of honour - emphasising skilful combat, personal valour, fidelity to duty, and death before dishonour - continues to shape the Indian Army's professional ethos. These chivalric ideals underpin regimental identity through mottos such as Veer Bhogya Vasundhara and Sarvatra Vijay, fostering unity and martial pride. The recently instituted Army Martial Arts Routine (AMAR) fuses indigenous Rajputana techniques with modern close-combat systems and global best practices, offering rigorous modules in hand-to-hand combat. Complementing this, the infantry and armoured corps' tactics, techniques and procedures integrate Rajput-style agility and precision with contemporary battle drills and deep-armoured manoeuvres suited for modern warfare. At dawn on January 15, 2026, against Jaipur's majestic skyline, indigenous platforms such as armoured personnel carriers, tanks, artillery guns and air defence systems will underscore Atmanirbhar Bharat and India's defence modernisation. Dazzling demonstrations of swarming drones, helicopter slithering, and combat operations, accompanied by a sound-and-light re-enactment of Operation Sindoor, will bring the arena alive, showcasing an army that acts with purpose, agility and precision. Equally significant are the gallantry awards that honour exceptional bravery, underscoring that technology and platforms are only as strong as the courage of the soldier behind them. Cultural performances, Know Your Army and Central Bureau of Communication exhibitions will dedicate the event to the people of Rajasthan - allowing citizens, especially the youth, to engage with soldiers, explore defence equipment, and connect with Army values and traditions. In essence, the 2026 Army Day Parade in Jaipur will become more than a ceremonial display; it will form a living bridge between Rajputana's legendary past and India's self-reliant, secure and aspirational future. It will celebrate the indomitable spirit of Rajasthan, whose courage and devotion continue to uphold the nation's proud martial tradition. The atmosphere in the Pink City is electrifying as Rajputana's heritage provides the canvas for the Indian Army's transformed profile - a confident, future-ready force embodying the march towards Viksit Bharat 2047....