Paris: The grand celebrations for Bastille Day took place at Champs-Élysées in Paris on Friday. Calling India a ‘giant’ in world history and a strategic partner, French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the country as the Guest of Honour at the Bastille Day Parade.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the military parade on France National Day as the Guest of Honour.
Taking to Twitter, President Macron tweeted, “A giant in world history, with a decisive role to play in the future, a strategic partner, a friend. We are proud to welcome India as our guest of honour at the 14 July parade”.
A giant in world history, with a decisive role to play in the future, a strategic partner, a friend.
We are proud to welcome India as our guest of honour at the 14 July parade. pic.twitter.com/bh6dwmHFRH
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 14, 2023
Champs-Élysées was coloured in red, blue and white – colours of the French Flag – for the grand celebrations.
Upon arriving at the venue, Macron met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after which the two leaders shared a warm hug. He also met other dignitaries who are present at the event.
Macron arrived in an open vehicle with soldiers in horses, jeeps and bikes marching along with him.
French First Lady Brigitte Macron and France’s PM Élisabeth Borne received Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Bastille Day Parade in Paris.
An Indian tri-services contingent was part of the Bastille Day Parade. Three Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jets also participated in the Bastille Day flypast over the Champs Elysees in Paris.
This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The Bastille Day Parade is the highlight of celebrations of the day that marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille prison, an ancient royal fortress in 1789 during the French Revolution.
This year the Bastille Day Parade had 6,300 soldiers in various marching contingents. This included a tri-services contingent of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. The Indian Army was represented by the Punjab Regiment. The troops of the Regiment have participated in both World Wars, having been awarded 18 Battle and Theatre Honours in the first war.
The Punjab Regiment participated in an offensive near Neuve Chapelle in France in September 1915 during World War One. The regiment also won 16 Battle Honours and 14 Theatre Honours in the Second World War.
An Indian tri-services contingent is a part of the Bastille Day Parade. Three Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jets are also participating in the Bastille Day flypast over the Champs Elysees in Paris.
#Watch | Indian Army’s Punjab Regiment march along the Champs-Élysées during the Bastille Day parade in Paris, France. The contingent is being led by Captain Aman Jagtap. #PMModiFranceVisit #PMModiVisitFrance #BastilleDayParade #EmmanuelMacron pic.twitter.com/LlB7GFGsoa
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) July 14, 2023
#Watch | Indian Air Force’s Rafales participate in the flypast at Bastille Day parade in Paris, France #BastilleDay #IAF #PMModiFranceVisit #PMModiInParis #IndianAirForce pic.twitter.com/vwouNN8zPc
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) July 14, 2023