Every year on January 15, India celebrates its Army Day. Indian army day 2023 is celebrated on 15th January 2023 and it marks the 75th anniversary.
History of Indian Army
The Indian Army is one of the most powerful militaries of the world, competing with superpowers like the US, Russia and China. The motto of the Indian Army is ‘service before self’ and its mission is to ensure national security and national unity, defend the nation from external aggression and internal threats, and maintain peace and security within its borders. Salute to the brave soldiers, who risk and sacrifice their lives to protect us. Even the Prime Minister of India Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1965 had given the slogan like “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”.
75th Army Day Parade
The Army Day Parade will be held in Bengaluru instead of Delhi today, in a break with tradition for the first time since 1949. Bike stunts, skydiving, and band displays will be part of the spectacular military display.
The 75th Army Day Parade will be held at the Madras Engineer Group (MEG) and Centre in Bengaluru. Army Chief General Manoj Pande will review the parade and present the gallantry awards.
This is the first time the parade has been moved out of the national capital. Cariappa Parade Ground in Delhi Cantonment had been home to the parade since its maiden edition in 1949. The Indian Air Force’s annual parade too was moved from the Hindon airbase near Delhi to Chandigarh year.
The Army Day evening function will be held at the Army Service Corps (ASC) Centre and College in the city at 2:30 pm. Rajnath Singh will be the chief guest. The celebrations will take under the supervision of the Indian Army’s Southern Command, which has its headquarters in Pune.
Breath-taking activities like motorcycle stunts by the ASC Tornadoes team, skydiving by the paratroopers, and a flypast by Army aviation helicopters will follow the parade. The event will also feature microlight flying, tent pegging, daredevil jumps, band displays, taekwondo and other martial art displays, among other activities.
Army Day is celebrated on January 15 every year to commemorate the day Field Marshal (then General) KM Cariappa took over Indian Army’s command from the British in 1949. He was the first Indian to head the Army.