(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Rain failed to dampen spirits at India's Republic Day parade yesterday as Barack Obama became the first US president to attend the spectacular military and cultural display in a sign of the nations' growing closeness.
Thousands of cheering spectators braved wet weather and heavy security to watch the parade, which marks the birth of modern India and includes everything from tanks and state-of-the-art weaponry to camels and traditional dancers.
The invitation to the annual celebration is one of the biggest honours the country can bestow on a foreign leader and underscores the increasing warmth between Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The leaders smiled and chatted as they watched from behind a bulletproof glass screen, Modi sporting a green and orange turban with a pink circular plume that rivalled the spectacular military headgear on display.
Obama gave a thumbs-up as stunt-riders on motorbikes formed their trademark human pyramid before the grand finale of the event, a fly-past by Indian fighter jets.
Much of the hardware on display was Russian-made, a reminder that despite the growing closeness of the world's two largest democracies, India still has strong defence ties with Moscow.
The mounted Border Security Force on their brightly-decorated camels, a traditional highlight, drew loud cheers from spectators who were out in force.
Obama's presence as chief guest represents a remarkable turnaround in his relationship with India's new leader, who only a year ago was persona non grata in Washington.
"I'm honoured to be the first American president to attend this celebration, as well as the first president to visit India twice," said Obama.
The parade celebrates the adoption in 1950 of the Indian Constitution - the day it became a republic - after gaining independence from Britain in 1947.
Alongside the carnival floats and military hardware were reminders of India's achievements, including a dance by schoolchildren representing the country's Mars mission last year.
Roads were closed around the area, which has been declared a no-fly zone, and snipers were positioned on rooftops along the route, where 15,000 new CCTV cameras have been installed.
No cameras were allowed near the spectacle, with the White House press pack forced to hand over phones and even pens.
Obama met leaders of the opposition Congress party at his hotel later in the day.
Afterwards, the US president, accompanied by his wife Michelle, were the star guests at President Pranab Mukherjee's traditional At Home reception on the manicured lawns of Rashtrapati Bhavan, an event that was briefer than usual and saw a much-trimmed guest list than before.
Amid stricter than usual security, with security personnel firmly keeping invited guests from pushing at the ribbon-barricade dividing them from the VIPs, the US president and his wife mingled with the members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government and also with former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Obama and Michelle made it a point to shake hands and greet the members of the National Democratic Alliance government who turned up for the At Home.
They included External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, among others.
While Obama was dressed in a formal dark suit, Michelle was wearing an off-white smart dress with small floral prints.
Modi was attired in a cream-coloured churidar-kurta, matched with a dark orange sleeveless jacket and a cream coloured shawl thrown across his shoulders.
The At Home this year lasted around 35-40 minutes, shorter than the one-hour event it usually is.
The reason: both Modi and Obama had to rush to the Taj Palace Hotel to attend two back-to-back business events with top CEOs from both India and the US in the evening.
There were around 1,400 guests this time, according to the president's press secretary, Venu Rajamony. Previous At Home events have seen 2,000-plus guests in attendance.
After meeting the ministers, Obama took a turn towards the invited gathering comprising envoys, diplomats, top government officials and cultural aficionados.
It looked for a moment as though he was about to go forward and meet the eagerly waiting guests, but the US president waved back and went back to his seat, as did his wife Michelle.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, dressed smartly in a black sari with a red border with a black coat to match, stood out with her quiet elegance.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur were also there.
Both Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh had met Obama before the At Home.
The event was telecast live for the first time.
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