NEW DELHI: India's army polished tanks and put soldiers, horses and camels through its pace on Thursday in preparation for the Republic Day parade in New Delhi next week.
The January 26 annual event showcases India's military prowess with missile launchers and fly-pasts as well as motorcycle stunts and dromedary-riding with the Border Security Force's brass band.
The report said that with the rise in COVID-19 cases across the country, attendance has been slashed to between 5,000 and 8,000 from last year's 25,000, and there will be no foreign guests.
To allow the parade to go ahead, activists are also rushing to complete the construction of a government complex in the heart of Delhi, which will also include a new Parliament building. Critics said the revamping of the area, surrounded by colonial-era buildings and trees, is an unnecessary and wasteful vanity project by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.