A large number of first-timers, including girls and young women, attended the 75th Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path here on Friday with 'Nari Shakti' being an overarching theme for the celebrations this year. From Delhi to Rajasthan, they came with friends or family members to witness the landmark occasion.

 Ranubha Kunwar, 28, a native of Alwar district, attended the parade wearing a traditional Rajasthani attire. "This is the first time I have attended a Republic Day celebration in Delhi, and it was a wonderful experience. The display of 'Nari Shakti' was special for us women," she said

 Kunwar said the Republic Day, besides being the 75th one, was also special for her as its chief guest French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were in Jaipur on Thursday.

 Bharati Gurjar, a state civil services aspirant from Rajasthan, said she had arrived in Delhi three days ago, just to attend the parade here.

 "I have come along with my younger sister, we both attended for the first time. Everything about the parade was amazing, the synchronisation in the marching contingents, the colourful tableaux and vibrant cultural performances. You can't say which aspect one liked the most as everything was great," she said

 Her sister, Sunidhi Gurjar, a first-year student of Miranda House at Delhi University, was also ecstatic about attending the ceremonial event for the first time. "India is our 'matrubhumi', motherland, and one feels a wave of patriotism here. India successfully hosted the G20 last year, we achieved the Chandrayaan feat and now with 2047 vision, we are going strong," Sunidhi said.