66th Republic Day Parade 2015 – Highlights and What’s new

Highlights

One show-stopper is the Border Security Force (BSF) on their brightly-decorated camels — one of only a few military forces in the world to use the animals.

The grand finale is a display of daring motorcycle stunts by the BSF, famed for their formation of a human pyramid on moving bikes, followed by a spectacular fly-past by the Indian Air Force that leaves a smoke-trail of the orange, white and green national flag.

What’s new

All-female units from the Army, Navy and Air Force will march for the first time in this year’s parade, which will feature 25 tableaux — five more than last year.

Security will be particularly tight this year, with roads sealed off and the metro shut down for the duration of the parade. Snipers will be posted on rooftops along the parade route, while helicopters and surveillance drones monitor from above. Some 400 kilometres (250 miles) around the venue has been declared a no-fly zone and 15,000 new CCTV cameras have been installed.

Spectators will not be allowed to take in mobile phones, cameras, books, or even remote-control car keys.