NEW DELHI: On Wednesday, President Ram Nath Kovind will lead the country in commemorating India's 73rd Republic Day (January 26). This year's celebrations are more significant because the Republic Day coincides on the 75th anniversary of India's independence, and it is being commemorated across the country as 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.'

The Ministry of Defence has planned a variety of new events for the main parade on Rajpath on Wednesday and the 'Beating the Retreat' ceremony at Vijay Chowk on January 29 to commemorate the anniversary.

The Republic Day celebrations will henceforth take place throughout a week, from January 23 to January 30, every year. The festivities will begin on January 23, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and will conclude on January 30, Martyrs' Day, the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's assassination in 1948.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in laying a wreath at the National War Memorial, where he will lead the nation in paying tribute to the nation's fallen heroes. Following that, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries will proceed to Rajpath's saluting dais to watch the procession.

The national flag will be unfurled, followed by the national anthem and a thunderous 21-gun salute, as is customary. President Ram Nath Kovind will lead the parade with a salute. Lt General Vijay Kumar Mishra, a second-generation Army officer, will command it. The Parade Second-in-Command will be Major General Alok Kacker, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area.

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