Thousands of others attending the shindig along India’s most magnificent avenue have a very different experience of the event.
Here’s what they can expect while watching India’s Republic Day parade live from the venue.
Getting a Ticket
Obama received a personal invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the parade as chief guest, but you and me have to buy a ticket.
This is a bit of a tedious process that hasn’t caught up with the online ticketing industry yet.
Instead, tiny temporary booths around the city sell tickets costing up to 300 rupees (about $5) and down to 10 rupees depending on whether you want a pre-allocated seat or to take your chances in the unreserved areas where entry is on a first-come-first-served basis.
It Starts Really Early
President Barack Obama will sweep into the parade venue – probably in his armor-plated limousine “The Beast”– at around 10 a.m. Most other people should be prepared for a long, early walk to get to their seats on time. Driving to the venue is not an option for the majority of the crowd. Nor is getting there by metro– stations near Rajpath are locked down for the duration of the parade.
Special invitees can display a “Park & Ride” label on their vehicle to get entry into one of the many designated parking lots and hop onto a Delhi Transport Corporation bus to the venue.
Mobiles, Cameras, Books, And That Remote Lock Key on Your Car Key, Even That’s Not Allowed
Expect to be frisked and stripped of your gadgets. Cellphones, eatables, cigarette lighters and matchboxes are barred for safety reasons.
But here’s the showstopper on the list of “things-not-allowed”: a remote-controlled car key. So those who brought their cars out will need to make a plan for where to leave the key.
The Weather
It’s early morning, it’s January and it’s Delhi. There will likely be fog as India celebrates the day it became a Republic.
Not only does that limit the view of the marching contingents and the dancing schoolchildren passing by, bad weather can also affect the flypast that usually rounds off the parade. In 2010, for instance, a quartet of Mi-17 helicopters that were scheduled to shower petals on spectators while flying by, but were prevented from doing so by the weather.
If the fog does obscure the view, don’t worry. The jingoistic commentary will be broadcast on the loudspeaker system.
If it rains though, things could be a little more uncomfortable – unless you’re a dignitary known in India as a Very Very Important Person — and able to shelter under the canopy on the viewing platform. Umbrellas are prohibited, so bring a raincoat.
Weather forecasts say passing showers will hit Delhi during the build up to Jan. 26 but on the day itself.
But, come rain or fog, the show must go on.
Once You’re In, Be Prepared to Wait
The crowd has to be seated by 7.30 a.m. but the action doesn’t begin until 9 a.m. and you can’t fill the time taking selfies or scanning Facebook. See above.
Now Hold Your Breath, This Year is Going to Be Bigger, Better…And Longer
President Obama’s presence is not the only first at this year’s parade.
There are some new additions, including three all-women contingents, each from the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. While women have participated in the marching contingents before, this is the first time entire contingents from the cadres of the three armed forces will take the eight-kilometer long parade. The decision to induct these contingents into the parade came after Prime Minister Modi’s directive to make “Naari Shakti,” or “woman power,” the leading theme for this year’s parade.
The closing flypast has some new entrants too: the MiG 29K, a fighter aircraft produced by Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG, which according to India’s naval force takes naval aviation in the country “from a defensive stature to one of dominance.” And the P-8I, a maritime surveillance aircraft that India bought from America’s Boeing Co. in May 2013, is the other newcomer. India’s Navy describes it as the Indian Naval variant of the P-8A Poseidon of the U.S. Navy.
Besides these, look out for 25 tableaux, up from 20 last year, and as many as 20 military and paramilitary bands.
All this is expected to extend the duration of the parade to a little beyond the normal two hours, according to Nungsanglemba Ao, a spokesman for India’s defense ministry.
There Is Another Option
If it all sounds a bit much, there is a sure-fire way to get a ringside seat at the event: watch it on TV.
Now, Happy Republic Day, Enjoy!!
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