The Republic Day parade saw a spectacle of combined band and marching contingent from Egypt, which made its first appearance in India on Thursday last. The parade was kicked off with a march of the Egyptian armed forces amid a thunderous applause from the crowd.
Since Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi joined the country in celebrating the 74th R-Day, the contingent from Egypt made a debut at Kartavya Path. There was excitement among the public to watch a foreign contingent. The combined band and marching contingent of the oldest regular army known to humanity ‘The Egyptian Army’, was led by Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdel Fattah El Kharasawy. The Egyptian armed forces have considered it as an honour and privilege to participate in India’s Republic Day Parade.
The military parade group consisted of 144 soldiers who represented the main branches of the Egyptian armed forces. The Egyptian contingent carries the legacy of one of the oldest regular armies known to humanity. Its history goes back to 3200 BC when King Narmer unified Egypt. The Old Kingdom was considered to be the height of Egyptian civilisation.
The modern Egyptian Army was established during the rule of Muhammed Ali Pasha (1805-1849). The Egyptian armed forces were significantly involved in many expeditions and wars between the 19th century and 20th century.
