NEW DELHI: French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday watched India’s 75th Republic Day celebrations at the majestic Kartavya Path, joining a select group of global leaders to have graced the nation’s biggest ceremonial in the last seven decades.As the chief guest at the ceremony, Macron witnessed the grand military parade and the cultural performances along with President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, members of the Union Cabinet, foreign diplomats and a host of other dignitaries.It was the sixth time that a French leader was the chief guest at the Republic Day parade.President Macron held wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Modi on Thursday in Jaipur.A 95-member marching contingent and a 30-member band contingent from France also took part in the parade.Two Rafale fighters and an Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport aircraft of the French air force will also feature in the celebrations.Every year, India invites world leaders to attend its Republic Day celebrations.Last year, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi graced the occasion.There was no Republic Day chief guest in 2021 and 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.In 2020, then Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations.In 2019, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was the chief guest at the Republic Day parade, while in 2018, leaders of all 10 ASEAN countries attended the celebrations.In 2017, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the chief guest at the celebrations, while then French President Francois Hollande graced the occasion in 2016.In 2015, then US President Barack Obama watched the parade.In 2014, then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the chief guest at the celebrations, while Bhutan king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck attended the parade in 2013.
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