A glance at the Republic Day 2023 parade: This time no VVIPs, first row reserved for vegetable vendors and rickshaw pullers

Digital Desk: The Republic Day parade in 2023 would feature special official invitees varying from rickshaw pullers to vegetable vendors, completely capturing the essence of a Republic nation. 

According to media reports, during the parade, Shramjeevis (workers who helped create the Central Vista), their families, Kartavya Path maintenance workers, and other members of the community such as rickshaw pullers, small grocers, and vegetable sellers will be seated in front of the main dais. 

The theme of this year's celebrations is "ordinary people engagement" in all R-Day events. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will be the principal guest at this year's Republic Day celebrations, which will take place on January 26.

 

A 120-member Egyptian marching group will also take part in the event. This is the first Republic Day parade since the venue, previously known as Rajpath, was renamed Kartavya Path during the September 2022 inauguration of the rebuilt Central Vista Avenue. 

The number of parade seats has decreased to 45,000, with 32,000 of these seats and 10% of total Beating Retreat event seats available for public purchase online.

During Bharat Parv in the Red Fort, there will be programmes from the Ministries of Tribal Affairs and Defence, along with displays of many states' art forms and food items. The flypast will feature 18 helicopters, 8 transporter planes, and 23 combat planes.

For the past few years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's central administration has placed a special emphasis on increasing the presence of the common man in governmental ceremonies and programmes. Even in the previous year's Republic Day parade, invitations were made to autorickshaw drivers, construction workers, sanitation workers, and frontline workers to attend the national great event. 

Last year, the notion of people's Padma gained traction when the list of Padma honorees included low-key accomplishments suggested by the Padma Awards Committee. Folk artists, social workers, musicians, athletes, those in social service, and others were among last year's winners.