India's 66th Republic Day parade took place on a cold and soggy Monday morning was one for the record books: Barack Obama becoming the first United States President to be chief guest at the event, he spent the longest time in the open air that he had ever done overseas (45 minutes), and the marchpast down Rajpath included the first all-women contingents of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Modi sported a tri-color turban and shades.
President Pranab Mukherjee was dressed much more sensibly.
When the dignitaries arrived at Rajpath for the Republic Day Parade, they were greeted by raindrops.
Modi, Obama, President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Hamid Ansari refusing to let a little drizzle get them down. (via PIB)
Someone had to make a decision if the umbrellas should come out, whether the guests should be holding their own.
But the parade really kicked off when the tableaux put on by various states and government entities rolled out. Make in India
Goa
Gujarat
Haryana
Bihar
Railways
Government schemes
Beyond the floats, Twitter users went on about VIPs and much more.
Finally, some people seemed to have been very concerned about President Obama and the gum he was chewing.
In attending India’s Republic Day parade, Obama has never before spent so much time outside in public overseas, a security challenge.
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) January 26, 2015
Highlight of the day so far. All women contignet at the R-Day parade for the first time in the history! #RepublicDay pic.twitter.com/iM7ntPQkcQ
— Sukhinder Anand (@AnandSukhinder) January 26, 2015
Modi sported a tri-color turban and shades.
Modi looks so badass. pic.twitter.com/29VlyHsgcH — Enthu Cutlet (@lady_gabbar) January 26, 2015
President Pranab Mukherjee was dressed much more sensibly.
Obama: Is that the guy from Russia that gave you this weaponry ? Modi: No No. It's just cold.That's Pranab Mukherjee. pic.twitter.com/6CAum7tsc7 — José Covaco (@HoeZaay) January 26, 2015
When the dignitaries arrived at Rajpath for the Republic Day Parade, they were greeted by raindrops.
Modi, Obama, President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Hamid Ansari refusing to let a little drizzle get them down. (via PIB)
Someone had to make a decision if the umbrellas should come out, whether the guests should be holding their own.
Hold your own umbrella dude. Seriously. RT @VocabSahab @MasalaBai You're right! pic.twitter.com/1rg3iWgO71 — Rituparna Chatterjee (@MasalaBai) January 26, 2015
#HappyRepublicDay No umbrella fr Amit Shah bt look at Madam. Sun never sets on the power of Gandhi family! pic.twitter.com/smVXdQzR4T — Mani Shakkar Aiyar (@ManiShankarIyer) January 26, 2015
But the parade really kicked off when the tableaux put on by various states and government entities rolled out. Make in India
@PIB_India: RT DDNational: WATCH NOW: makeinindia_ - Made in India! on: https://t.co/8UcpzFY8Cl pic.twitter.com/BiGJQx2S67 #bjp #KiranBedi... — Sitaram Thakare (@sitaram_thakare) January 26, 2015
Make In India float was designed by an American ad agency. Just sayin. — Kabir Taneja (@KabirTaneja) January 26, 2015
Only some of the gears in that Make in India mechanized lion are moving. Read into that what you will. — Dhruva Jaishankar (@d_jaishankar) January 26, 2015
Goa
That's one scary crab! RT @firstpostin: #Goa tableau at #RepublicDay parade http://t.co/Uw0j85G3mB pic.twitter.com/0Ci59hLj03 — Chryselle (@chryselled) January 26, 2015
Enjoyed the Parade. The Goa float was totally filled with stereotypes with the exception of two Russian Ladies snorting coke. — Rahul (@RahulxC) January 26, 2012
Gujarat
Republic Day | Tableaux of Gujarat's float featuring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel http://t.co/y4NRemWksr pic.twitter.com/KIh6ZpTKZL — dna (@dna) January 26, 2015
Only Gujarat state sent a float which doesn't exists..?? #SardarPatelStatue #RDParade2015 — Guru charan (@alwayscharan4u) January 26, 2015
Haryana
#NamasteObama: The Haryana float celebrates the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, a major destination for migratory birds pic.twitter.com/FzIG9iWavo — CNN-IBN News (@ibnlive) January 26, 2015
Also surprised the Haryana float hasn't tried to overtake the float ahead from left. — Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) January 26, 2015
Bihar
Bihar's tableau should just have schedule of trains to Delhi and Mumbai. — SAMBHA (@sambha_bhilane) January 26, 2015
Breaking: People from the Bihar float try and climb the Maharashtra float, beaten.
— Khamba (@gkhamba) January 26, 2013
Railways
Republic Day float of the Indian Railways featuring a High Speed Train mockup: pic.twitter.com/jNAQq8R2fH
— Indian Railway Facts (@IRfacts) January 26, 2015
Fittingly, the IRCTC float got a ticket to enter the parade after a long, long, wait. #RepublicDay #ObamaPalooza2015 — Overrated Outcast (@over_rated) January 26, 2015
Government schemes
We had more floats for Modi’s pet schemes than for actual states. Suck it, North Korea. #RepublicDay #ObamaPalooza2015 — Overrated Outcast (@over_rated) January 26, 2015
Is this the only parade in the world to feature both a nuclear missile and an ATM? #IndianRepublicDay — Tunku Varadarajan (@tunkuv) January 26, 2015
Beyond the floats, Twitter users went on about VIPs and much more.
Must have been a difficult political decision for a Democrat President to attend a Republic Day parade. — Raj (@chennaikaran) January 26, 2015
One minute silence for the VIP guards who have to keep their backs turned to the parade the *entire* time
— Khamba (@gkhamba) January 26, 2015
CAN SOMEONE GET A PICTURE OF OBAMA AND AMIT SHAH TOGETHER I'VE BEEN WAITING ON THE "MOST POWERFUL MAN IN THE WORLD WITH OBAMA" TWEET FOREVER
— Khamba (@gkhamba) January 26, 2015
This is India. All religions risking own and others lives doing stupid things together and no one at the steering. pic.twitter.com/czge0DCM5E — Be'havin! (@WrongDoc) January 26, 2015
People I feel bad for right now: 1. Michelle Obama 2. Michelle Obama 3. People trying to commute to anywhere in Delhi 4. Michelle Obama — Rega Jha (@RegaJha) January 26, 2015
Finally, some people seemed to have been very concerned about President Obama and the gum he was chewing.
#RepublicDay : close'up of PM with the US President in the VIP box pic.twitter.com/fIpuv8oM2s
— PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2015
Obama was not chewing gum. It was last night's Rabri. #RDayWithObama
— Shirish Kunder (@ShirishKunder) January 26, 2015
Report says Air Force One hadcarried 100 kgs of chew gum and Obama consumed half of that during 3 hours of R-Day celebrations
— Ra_Bies (@Ra_Bies) January 26, 2015
I'm frankly a bit grossed out that Obama is chewing the same gum for the last two hours. The hotness is wearing off a bit. Who DOES that?
— Rituparna Chatterjee (@MasalaBai) January 26, 2015
Obama chewing gum. Jaitley eating peanuts. Pranab having hojmiguli, I suppose.
— Brown Sahiba (@Rajyasree) January 26, 2015
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