Thousands lined Mahal Road in Jagatpura to witness the parade, which showcased BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Bhishma and Arjun main battle tanks, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers, unmanned systems and robotic dogs. Overhead, Apache attack helicopters executed low-level manoeuvres, while Jaguar fighter aircraft flew in from the Nal airbase near the Pakistan border in Bikaner, drawing loud applause from the crowd.
The ceremony opened with tributes to soldiers martyred in Operation Sindur. During the posthumous award presentation, the mother of Lance Naik Pradeep Kumar collapsed on stage while receiving her son’s medal. Army officers immediately assisted her and she was taken to hospital by ambulance. Officials later said her condition was stable.
The parade route stretched nearly three kilometres, from the Jeevan Rekha Hospital crossing to the Bombay Hospital crossing on Mahal Road. Police and civic authorities estimated that more than 1.5 lakh people attended the event, with parking facilities arranged at 18 designated locations to manage the influx.
Mizoram Governor V.K. Singh, a former Army chief, was the chief guest. He reviewed the parade shortly after arriving at the venue around 10 am. Senior officers decorated with India’s highest gallantry awards—the Ashok Chakra, Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra—led the march, lending ceremonial gravitas to the occasion.
Army officials said the decision to hold the parade in a public urban space was aimed at strengthening civil-military engagement and giving citizens a closer look at the Army’s evolving capabilities. Alongside armoured columns and missile systems, the display highlighted drone warfare, network-centric operations and rapid-response technologies now central to modern battlefields.
The Army Day celebrations in Jaipur underscored both pride and sacrifice—projecting military strength while reminding spectators of the human cost behind the uniforms. For many in the crowd, the sight of advanced hardware rolling past residential streets was matched only by the emotional resonance of honouring those who gave their lives in service to the nation.
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