INDIA MARKS REPUBLIC DAY

INDIA CELEBRATES
63rd REPUBLIC DAY

www.voanews.com - India celebrated its 63rd Republic Day Thursday with a parade showcasing its military and air power, and its rich and diverse cultural heritage. In New Delhi, India displayed missiles that can carry nuclear warheads, while fighter jets, long-range aircraft and helicopters flew overhead. Thousands of people turned up at Rajpath (King’s Avenue) to watch the colourful parade amid tight security. India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and military officials laid wreaths at a memorial for those who gave their lives to defend the nation. Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, in the country on an official visit, was the guest of honor. Some 25,000 security personnel guarded the Indian capital against possible attacks from militant groups. Security was also stepped up in Indian-controlled Kashmir. India’s Republic Day commemorates the adoption of a democratic constitution on January 26, 1950.

 On Thursday morning, Delhi resembled a fortress with a multi-layered security ring in place at Rajpath, where President Pratibha Patil unfurled the Indian flag and took the salute of marching contingents, news agency Press Trust of India reported. Officials said 160 closed-circuit cameras were installed between Rajpath and Red Fort, the route of the parade. Anti-aircraft guns were placed at several places and helicopters hovered over the parade route. At the parade, the army displayed its tanks and missile launchers. The nuclear capable Agni-IV missile with a range of 3,000km (1,864 miles), was cheered by the public, reporters said. Smaller parades have also been held in the state capitals.  It is informed that 40,000 policemen were keeping vigil in the financial capital, Mumbai, which has seen several high-profile militant attacks in recent years.

India has celebrated its 63rd Republic Day showing off its latest weapons, even tanks and missile launchers, at a military parade in the capital, Delhi. Thousands of people attended the parade. Hundreds of soldiers marched and more than 25,000 policemen and paramilitary forces guarded the streets. Smaller parades were also held in the state capitals. In India there is still the wonderful cultural heritage of Vedic knowledge, the one who studies and practices it gradually increased his spiritual enlightenment.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Thus whoever takes birth in the land of Bhārata-varsha attains all the facilities of life. He may take advantage of all these facilities for both material and spiritual advancement and thus make his life successful. After attaining the goal of life, one may distribute his knowledge and experience all over the world for humanitarian purposes. In other words, one who takes birth in the land of Bhārata-varsha by virtue of his past pious activities gets full facility to develop the human form of life. ... In this verse the word lakshita-lakshanām indicates that the human body attained in Bhārata-varsha is very auspicious.  Vedic culture is full of knowledge, and a person born in India can fully take advantage of Vedic cultural knowledge and the cultural system known as varnāśrama-dharma.

Śrīla A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda :
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam - Canto 4: “Creation of the Fourth Order”  
Chapter 25: “The Descriptions of the Characteristics of King Purañjana”
Verse 13 - Bhaktivedanta VedaBase