India celebrates Republic Day 2022 amid controversies and pandemic

Only double-vaccinated people and children over the age of 15 with a single vaccine dose allowed at parade

India's national flag is waved in front of the clock tower in Lal Chowk square during celebrations for the country's 23rd Republic Day in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir. EPA

Central Reserve Police Force members on parade in New Delhi. EPA

Indian Army commandos march on the ceremonial Rajpath boulevard in the capital, New Delhi. AP

People feed elephants as mahouts wave Indian flags during Republic Day celebrations in Ahmedabad. AP

Soldiers take part in a parade at a cricket stadium in Srinagar. AFP

A float representing the Indian Department of Post takes part in the New Delhi parade. AFP

A Jammu and Kashmir state policeman performs a motorcycle stunt during celebrations in Jammu. AP

Punjab Police officers march in Amritsar. AFP

The Indian Civil aviation float at the Rajpath parade in New Delhi. AFP

Students wave Indian flags in front of the Vidhana Soudha, seat of the State Legislature of Karnataka, during celebrations in Bangalore. EPA

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks to a presidential guard after the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. Reuters

Dancers perform during the parade in New Delhi. Reuters

India’s Indo-Tibetan Border Police "Daredevils" motorcycle riders perform in New Delhi. Reuters

Soldiers march on the ceremonial Rajpath boulevard in New Delhi. Reuters

A soldier salutes while standing in a missile launch vehicle during the parade in New Delhi. Reuters

Strict measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus were in place at the parade in New Delhi. Reuters

Indian Railway Protection Force officers take a selfie before taking part in a march to mark India's 73rd Republic Day celebrations in Hyderabad. AP

Cadets of the Railway Protection Forces march in Chennai. AFP

Women commandos of the Assam Police take part in a parade in Gauhati. AP

Railway Protection Forces cadets march in Chennai. AFP

Soldiers stand in formation during a Republic Day parade at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. AFP

The Ripon Building in Chennai illuminated with the colours of the Indian flag on the eve of the country's 73rd Republic Day. EPA

The celebrations commemorate the adoption of the constitution on January 26, 1950. EPA

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, a World Heritage Site in Mumbai, illuminated in the colours of the Indian flag. EPA

The Indian flag is projected on to a dome next to the Rajpath boulevard in New Delhi. AFP

Dozens of drones form India's map in New Delhi's night sky. AP

Drones spell out '75th Anniversary of Indian Independence' during an aerial show. AP

Government buildings on either side of the Rajpath are illuminated in the colours of the Indian flag. AP

A woman sells a mini Indian flag in Mumbai on the eve of Republic Day. EPA

Security personnel stand in the middle of the Rajpath on January 25, the eve of India's 73rd Republic Day. AP

The Rajpath is blocked off ready for the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. AP

India celebrated its 73rd Republic Day on Wednesday with a spectacular display of its military power and cultural diversity.

The nation's constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950, making India a republic.

This year, an air show featuring 75 aircraft and helicopters of the Indian Air Force was the highlight of the parade during India's 75th year of independence.

More than 480 dancers from across the country and 21 shows from different states displayed stunning cultural diversity at the parade on the Rajpath boulevard in the capital New Delhi.

Historically, the parade was always attended by the prime minister, top leaders, foreign dignitaries and thousands of citizens.

But as the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic rages, the number of spectators has been limited with no presence of foreign dignitaries, for the second year in a row.

Only double-vaccinated people and children above 15 with a single dose of the vaccines were allowed to attend.

This year’s celebrations were also marred with controversies.

On Tuesday, the government was forced to issue a clarification that no Bollywood songs would feature in the grand parade after a video tweeted by an official showed a navy band dancing to a number during rehearsals.

The video showed the band playing the song while others tapped their rifles. Opposition politicians accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of diluting the dignity of the armed forces.

Last week, the government merged the “Amar Jawan Jyoti” flame at India Gate with the National War Memorial, causing another social media furore as users said Mr Modi was erasing the country's history.