Republic Day: French happy over two nations coming together for celebration

NEW DELHI: The delegation accompanying French President Francois Hollande and embassy officials here expressed happiness over the two countries coming together to celebrate India's 67th Republic Day.

Hollande was the chief guest at the ceremonial parade on the Rajpath where India's military might and cultural diversity and achievements in various fields were on display.

French officials, part of the delegation accompanying Hollande, and press members from that country who attended the event, many for the first time, were seen cheering various contingents and tableaux that paraded on the ceremonial boulevard.

"It was wonderful to be here and it felt lovely to see India celebrate her Republic Day and France joining in here as represented by our President," a visiting French official said.

"We are about 100-115 people in the delegation and we saw something really wonderful," he said.

A senior French Embassy official, requesting not to be named said, "There are five ministers as part of the delegation -- Defence, Culture, Finance and Public Accounts, Energy and Foreign Affairs."

Smartly attired marching contingents, the camel contingent, motorcycle daredevilry team and cultural programmes from various states also won the hearts of the French.

Creating history, a contingent of French soldiers today marched down the Rajpath leading the Republic Day celebrations, the first time foreign soldiers took part in the military parade since independence.