2nd LD Writethru: India celebrates Republic Day

India celebrated its 66th Republic Day on Monday, displaying its military might with the impressive weaponry show.

U.S. President Barack Obama, as the chief guest at the event, watched the parade, along with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from behind a bullet-proof glass enclosure.

The ceremony showcased soldiers in colorful headgear marching down Rajpath, an open road in front of the country's presidential palace at the heart of the national capital, and the latest weapons, including several that are American-made.

The showstopper was Janbaaz, the para-military Border Security Force's crack team of motorcycle stuntmen, who drew a thumbs-up from an excited U.S. president.

The parade also showcased three Russian-made Sukhoi jets performing the Trishul formation where the jets split up to form a trident with their contrails as the crowd gathered to witness the spectacular event, which was also telecast on TV channels.

This year, for the first time, three all-women contingents from the army, navy and air force took part in an exquisite march past.

On the cultural front, the new initiatives by the Modi government, such as "Make in India" and the "Jan Dhan Yojana", which aims at bank accounts for all Indians, were showcased. In total, 16 tableaus from the states and nine from various ministries graphically displayed India's rich cultural diversity.

Obama is the first U.S. president to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations. He was invited by Modi, an invitation considered as one of the biggest honors India can bestow on a foreign leader.

The Republic Day parade celebrates the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1950, the day when India became a republic, three years after it gained independence from Britain. Endi