In Pics: After 40 years, horse-drawn 'buggy' carries President at R-Day parade
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Reviving tradition
This Republic Day, the horse-drawn "buggy" returned after a 40-year hiatus. President Droupadi Murmu and her French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, arrived at the Kartavya Path for the procession in the traditional carriage.
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President's Bodyguard escorts
Men riding stately horses and wearing eye-catching red uniforms accompanied the traditional "buggy." The President's Bodyguard, known as "Rashtrapati Ke Angrakshak," escorted the buggy.
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Selection process
There is a rigorous selection process for troopers who will ride two bay-colored horses and wear scarlet uniforms. In order to guarantee a flawless performance during the Republic Day Parade, horses raised at the Army's Remount and Veterinary Corps depots go through training to become accustomed to different sounds.
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Why was it discontinued?
With the assassination of then-prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1984, the presidential buggy was no longer used for Republic Day celebrations. Presidents have been travelling in limousines ever since the suspension, which was brought on by security concerns.
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250-year bond
With a 250-year history, the President's Bodyguard is the Indian Army's most senior regiment and values an enduring relationship with horses. Reviving a proud tradition during the Republic Day Parade, the regiment, one of the few in the world to wear Napoleon boots, marks its presence one gallop at a time.