In which it is Rebublic Day

In Canada, we have Canada Day, which is mostly marked by displays of fireworks and drunkenness to mark our independence. In India, there is Republic Day, which is probably marked at night by displays of fireworks and drunkenness, but in the morning, there’s a big parade.

The parade is big enough to require tickets and waking up at an ungodly hour (it was still mostly dark) in order to be seated by 9:30am (after combating traffic and parking and queues to the ticketed seating). The security was ridiculously (but understandably) tight. You weren’t allowed to bring *anything* into the stands, and everyone was subjected to a (rather violating) search upon entry. There was police and commandos, all carrying heavy artillery absolutely everywhere. Festive.

Before the parade actually started, there was a lot of waiting around for the President to show up. We were seated in a tourist section, so I looked around at the wealth of white people in our area. I discovered a row of attractive [North] American boys a ways in front of us that kept me occupied until the parade actually started. Don’t look at me like that. You would have done the same thing.

Things kicked off which the President’s procession, the National anthem, and helicopters dropping flower petals in their wake.

What must have been at *least* the first hour of the parade was a succession of displays of the military. Tanks and many trucks carrying things like missiles, anti-aircraft guns, and fancy equipment. Big scary displays of military metal. These vehicles were followed by what seemed like an endless succession of marching corps and their marching bands. For a long while I managed to keep myself awake by looking for differences in the corps uniforms. Stuff like the light blue uniforms are airforce, and the corps all wearing turbans must all be Sikhs. I seriously contemplated just dozing off when suddenly there were camels! (I don’t know what this new thing is that I have with camels.) There was a corps riding camels followed by a freaking *band* riding camels while playing. The announcer (who was difficult to follow since she only talked about things as they passed the president which was a ways after they passed us) said that it was the only camel band in the world, which is believable. Really, the camels can only be for display since I can’t imagine them *ever* having been the beast of choice to ride into war.

Still, camels are pretty rad.

All of this military stuff was followed by floats representing all of the different states, as well as some organizations. All of the floats were very nice, so far as floats go. There was a lot of creativity so far as the people riding the floats. They didn’t just stand there and wave like idiots (except for Goa), but helped illustrate the scene on the float.

There was a display of bejeweled elephants, which made me *really* wish I had my camera (if only for W’s sake). Granted, they weren’t *that* bejeweled and they were there to carry a bunch of kids who had performed noble deeds (ie. Rescuing people) in the past year. I don’t think it’s *quite* the photo that I need to fulfill that mission. Although it’s pretty cool that those kids get honoured like that. They probably also got a plaque or something.

All of *that* was followed by many many dance troupes, who all stopped to perform something in front of the President’s box. This is where things surpassed boring, since we couldn’t actually see them performing. We could only see them standing and waiting to perform. So we wandered towards shade.

When we left the shade, we caught a bunch of motorcyclists performing gymnastic stunts. The kind where the riders somehow drive the bike on top of a ladder or a bunch of people form pyramids. Then there were planes flying in fancy plane formations and masses of balloons released into the sky to ascend into tiny constellations in the colours of the Indian flag and release confetti.

This is where I realize that I’m so damn cynical and jaded. I see balloons and don’t think about how pretty they are, but think about how dangerous loose balloons like that are to the environment. I see displays of military might and feel sad that this is a country that *needs* that much military might.

The camels were cool. Not to mention that, Vladmir Putin and some of his Russian buddies were in the President’s box. Also cool. Although the Russians are probably in India to discuss things like nuclear arms. Yikes.

No. I will be less jaded. I will think of camels. (Whee!)