India is set to celebrate their 70^th Republic Day on Saturday (January 26, 2019). The President of South Africa will be the chief guest during the 90-minute parade in New Delhi, also this will be the outgoing NDA governments last large public event before going in to the elections this year.

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by the first lady Dr. Tshepo Motsepe, high level delegations, 9 ministers, senior officials, and 50 members of business contingent. This is the first time that the President of South Africa visited India since becoming the president.

After the parade, Prime Minister Modi and President Ramaphosa are set to have a meeting on regional, bilateral, and global issues.

So what is so special about this year’s Republic Day Parade?

For the first time in the history of India, we will be witnessing an all- woman contingent that will march down the Rajpath and Salute the President.

2019 also marks the 150^th birthday of freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi who has special connections with South Africa.

The parade will start off by laying a wreath in the Amar Jawan Jyoti that is located at the India Gate, this will be performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the 90-minute parade, we will see 22 human sized tableaux of Mahatma Gandhi, and performances performed by school students and other people.

The Republic Day of India is celebrated every year on the 26th of January since the year of 1950. On January 26, 1950 the world’s largest constitution was made, India has since become the Republican State that believed in “For the people, by the people.”