Republic Day 2018: 5 things that make India's 69th R-day celebrations special

With all the citizens joining in the festivities of 69th Republic Day, the National capital of India, New Delhi is witnessing an unprecedent event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited the leaders of 10 ASEAN nations as this year's chif guest. This has happened for the first time in India's history that the country will welcome 10 guests for the republic day parade. 

But want to now, what other things are there that makes this year's republic day special? Then we have listed out five important facts that make this republic day truly incredible. 

1. As mentioned above, leaders from all the 10 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member countries – Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Brunei – are the chief guests at the Republic day parade.

And to honour this historic event, the ASEAN flag will also be flown in the sky during the January 26 parade. 

Here's all you need to know about 10 ASEAN leaders that have arrived on Prime Minister's Narendra Modi's invitation. 

2. The flypast march had five Mi-17 V5 helicopters of the Indian Air Force to commemorate the presence of 10 ASEAN nations in India. The lead helicopter carried the national flag, followed by the ASEAN flag and the three other helicopters carried flags of Army, Navy and Air Force. 

3.The parade also witnessed the participation of over 770 students performing kathak and folk dances of Thailand, Malaysia, and other countries. Also, around 150 students had performed in the traditional attire of the 10 ASEAN countries.

4.All India Radio (AIR) lead a series of 23 tableaus and featured ‘Mann Ki Baat’, the monthly radio programme, addressed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Mann Ki Baat is a radio programme hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which he addresses the nation on All India Radio, DD National and DD News regarding various issues related to national's importance. 

5. The woman squad of of the Border Security Force (BSF) performed motorcycle act for the first time ever. The squad by women personnel has been named ‘Seema Bhavani’ or the ‘border braves’. 

The act witnessed 113 women bikers riding 26 350CC Royal Enfield motorcycles performing acrobatics and daredevil stunts at the parade. The act included stunts such as ‘Pyramid’, ‘Bull Fighting’, ‘Seema Prahari’ among others. 

Besides, Jyoti Prakash Nirala, an Indian Air Force Garud commando who laid down his life while gunning down two terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, has been posthumously conferred with the Ashok Chakra, the highest peacetime military decoration.

President Ram Nath Kovind approved 390 gallantry and other defence decorations to armed forces personnel and others on the eve of the 69th Republic Day celebrations, the defence ministry said.

Ashok Chakra is the highest peacetime military decoration for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield.