Tradition stays: BSF camel contingent to march in R-day parade

The Border Security Force’s camel contingent will continue to march in the ceremonial Republic Day parade on Rajpath in New Delhi after all.

In an afterthought, the contingent of camels caparisoned in rich bridal attire and silver bracelets jingling has been finally called in to march down the Rajpath, keeping alive the 66-year-old tradition of the country’s main parade on January 26.

With less than a week to go for the national event, the iconic contingent on Wednesday took part in dress rehearsals for the first time after it was made to skip the same exercise on January 17 and 18.

The four-footed contingent, colourfully bedecked, is a major attraction at the parade every year.

Officials said the Border Security Force authorities were informed on Tuesday evening by the Ministry of Defence to mobilise their squad and participate in the drill at the Rajpath on Wednesday morning.

"The camel contingent on Wednesday participated in the dress rehearsals for the first time. The squad has been in New Delhi for the last about three months but no intimation for participating in the rehearsals for January 26 parade were made earlier. It skipped the scheduled and notified rehearsals held on January 17 and 18," the officials said.

The 90-camel contingent, 54 with troops and the rest with band personnel, first became part of this national festival celebration in 1976 after it replaced a similar squad of the army which had been participating in the Republic Day parade since it first took place in 1950.

The BSF is the only force in the country to have these majestic and elegantly dressed four-legged animals for both operational and ceremonial duties.

They are used by BSF personnel for patrolling along the Thar desert running along the Indo-Pak International Border in Rajasthan.

The contingent had been the intrinsic part of the parade at the Rajpath every January 26.

"The contingent has been practising at other facilities till now and it can surely give its best by putting its best foot forward in the last few days before January 26," officials said.

According to tradition, the lead camel contingent on Republic Day showcases smartly dressed and with large-moustaches and armed BSF border guards, the second follows with bandsmen in beautiful multi-colour dresses on the back of the camels playing martial music.

"The camel contingent may also now be included in the Beating the Retreat ceremony to be held on January 29 where they stand on the ramparts of the North and South Blocks on Raisina Hill," officials said.