A thrilling vertical manoeuvre by Su30 fighter jets and performance by motorcycle-borne soldiers among a host of other activities today cast a spell over thousands of people who attended the carnival 'Indradhanush' at the Rajpath in New Delhi to commemorate the golden jubilee of the 1965 Indo-Pak War.
From martial arts display, jazz band concert and hot air balloon rides to choreographed dance shows, Army dog show, Army motor cycle display, magicians and jugglers, the armed forces had everything in place to enchant those who attended the carnival on a breezy Sunday.
The Sukhoi30 fighter jets which flew in a missing man formation while another took a vertical stunt, considered to be one of the toughest, was the biggest draw. As the roar of the fighter jet engine was heard around 4:19 pm, every single person on the Indian Gate lawns had their eyes on the sky. This was the first time that fighter jets had flown over the Rajpath other than the Republic Day every year.
The carnival is part of 'Shauryanjali', an exhibition being held on the Rajpath commemorating the golden jubilee of the 1965 Indo-Pak war. Though Sunday was supposed to be closing date, the defence authorities had extended it for another two days. Seen in the photograph, above, are Indian Army personnel performing at the Rajpath.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had visited the exhibition on Friday, mentioned it in his monthly radio programme Mann ki Baat on Sunday, saying, "I was supposed to be there for 30 mins but spent two and half hours". Seen in the photograph, above, are IAF personnel performing with their guns at Rajpath
All photographs: Atul Yadav/PTI Photos
OUR SPECIAL SERIES: THE 1965 WAR, 50 YEARS LATER
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- The Hero of the Battle of Dograi
- Asal Uttar, the battle that turned the tide of the 1965 war
- Param Vir Chakra Abdul Hamid, a Hero's Hero
- My Father, the Param Vir Chakra Winner
- The daredevil fighter pilot who survived a Pakistani bullet
- My salute to arguably India's greatest military hero
- Two wars and a romance
- The war that helped India regain its military confidence
- The central lesson from the '65 war
- The general who saved Punjab in the '65 war
