New Delhi3 hours ago
- copy link
The Indian Army may soon shift the Army Day and Airforce Day parades outside Delhi. Army Day is celebrated every year on 15 January. On this occasion, a parade takes place in the Cantonment area of Delhi. At the same time, Air Force Day is celebrated on 8 October. Airforce Day Parade takes place at Hindon Air Base.
The government believes that Army Day and Air Force Day should be celebrated across the country. In this episode, the next Air Force Day Parade will be held in Chandigarh and the Army Day Parade will be held in the Southern Command Area of the country. The headquarters of the Southern Command of the Indian Army is in Pune, Maharashtra.
Former Army Chief General MM Naravane, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and Air Force Chief Air Marshal VR Choudhary pay tribute at the National War Memorial on the occasion of Army Day in 2022.
People from other states will get a chance to participate in the event
An army official said that next year’s Army Day Parade will be held at the Southern Command. The location for this will be finalized soon. Another official said that there are two reasons behind the shifting of the Air Force Day Parade from Hindon Base. The first reason is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants big events not to be confined to Delhi. These should also be organized in other parts of the country, so that people from other places can also participate in them.
The second reason is that it will give an opportunity to the students of schools and colleges across the country to participate in it. So far, the Air Force Day Parade has been held at Hindon Air Force Base only. Children from only a few selected schools have been participating in it. Now that won’t happen.
Soldiers doing full dress rehearsal at Hindon Air Base ahead of Air Force Day 2021.
Why are Army Day and Air Force Day celebrated?
Army Day: After the country gained independence, on 15 January 1949, Lieutenant General KM Cariappa became the first indigenous Commander-in-Chief, replacing the British Commander-in-Chief Francis Roy Butcher. The Army Day Parade takes place at the Cariappa Parade Ground in Delhi. Gallantry awards and Sena Medals are also presented on this day. 73rd Army Day will be celebrated next year.
Airforce Day: The Air Force was established in India in 1939 as the Air Force of the British Empire. After independence, its name remained the Royal Air Force of India. When the Republic of India was established in 1950, Royal was removed from its name. In 2022, the country will celebrate 90th Air Force Day. In 2006, the Air Force Day Parade began at Hindon Airbase. Earlier it used to be at Delhi’s Palam Airport.