Highlights of 68th Republic Day celebrations

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute to the martyrs by laying a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate on the occasion of Republic Day. Modi was accompanied by Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa and Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba. After laying the wreath, Modi observed a two-minute silence to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers.

गणतंत्र दिवस की सभी देशवासियों को बहुत-बहुत शुभकामनाएं। #RepublicDay greetings to everyone.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 26, 2017

There will be a spectacle of the country's military might and cultural prowess on Rajpath in which the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the guest of honour. Highlights: 

Happy Republic Day everyone. More power to all out there to make a positive change around you. Jai Hind ????????????????????????#MeraBharatMahan pic.twitter.com/M8So6WO148 — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) January 26, 2017

#RDayWithAIR:: Awesome Aerobatics - Rapt spectators !#Rajpath#26Januarypic.twitter.com/QhRRnBIxMs — All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) January 26, 2017

  'Sweta Ashwa' team of military police perform daredevil stunts. PICS/DD National. #Assam contingent crosses #Rajpath #RepublicDay. PIC/DD National. NSG's Black Cat Commandoes marching at the #RepublicDay Parade. PIC/ DD National. Indian Navy Tableau at the #RepublicDay parade Indian Navy Tableau at the #RepublicDay parade. PIC/DD National. Mechanised Infantry Regiment parading at Rajpath. PIC/DD National Republic Day parade underway at Rajpath.  India showcases its military prowess. (PICS/DD National) [caption id="attachment_484627" align="alignnone" width="600"] 2017 Parade is commanded by Lt. Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane,Sena Medal,Vishisht Seva Medal General Officer Commanding,Delhi Area. PIC/PIB India[/caption] Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli's wishes on Republic Day. PIC/Twitter. Former star cricketer Sachin Tendulkar tweets on Republic Day. PIC/Twitter. Congress President Sonia Gandhi at #RepublicDay parade at Rajpath. PIC/ANI. Virat Kohli, Mohammad Shami and Rajiv Shukla at #RepublicDay celebrations in Kanpur. PIC/ANI. UAE contingent march past at Rajpath. (PICS/DD National) Prime Minister Modi lays wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti. PIC/DD National President Pranab Mukherjee leaves for Rajpath along with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. PIC/DD National. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar at Rajpath. PIC/ DD National Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) national president H.D. Deve Gowda. PIC/DD National. BJP chief Amit Shah at the Republic Day Celebrations in New Delhi. PIC/DD National. Finance Minister and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley at the Republic Day event in New Delhi. PIC/DD National. On this day 67 years ago, a great Republic was born! Happy #RepublicDay. Tweet/PIC PIB India Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also wished the people on the occasion of Republic Day and said the country needed to be saved from "dictatorial forces". "Republic Day greetings to all the citizens of this country. We will have to protect this Republic from the dictatorial forces," the Aam Aadmi Party leader tweeted.

सभी देशवासियों को गणतंत्र दिवस की ढेर सारी शुभकामनाएँ। हिट्लर शाही ताक़तों से इस गणतंत्र को बचाना होगा। — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 26, 2017

He attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for seizing files related to the AAP government's Feed Back Unit. "Just a day before the Republic Day, Modiji sent CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) and confiscated all the files related to Delhi government's Feed Back Unit." (Pictures of people walking in line at Rajpath, waiting for Republic Day parade to begin. PICS/ABP News) Why we celebrate Republic Day? Republic Day honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into force on 26th January 1950. The day replaced the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India. Image courtesy: Wikipedia