New Delhi, Jan 26 (UNI) As the nation celebrated its 77th Republic Day, President Draupadi Murmu made a grand entrance along Kartavya Path, escorted by the President’s Bodyguard, Rashtrapati ke Angrakshak, mounted on magnificent bay and dark bay war horses.
The Bodyguard, the seniormost regiment of the Indian Army, is the only unit authorised to carry two Standards, a distinction bestowed by the President on 16 November 2023.
Leading the ceremonial escort, Colonel Amit Berwal, Commandant of the President’s Bodyguard, rode astride his charger Meghdoot,while Lieutenant Colonel Angad Singh Thind, Second-in-Command, rode Sultan to the left of the President’s Buggy.
The historic Presidential Buggy, a symbol of India’s rich heritage and culture, was guided by Naib Risaldar Jitender on Longstride during the ceremonial parade. The President’s Bodyguard, India’s elite airborne cavalry regiment, is revered worldwide for its heritage, professionalism, and versatility. Its officers and troops are expert horsemen, trained tank operators, and qualified paratroopers.
Since Independence, the regiment has distinguished itself in operations at Chushul (1962), Gadra Road (1965), Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka (1988), and Operation Vijay (1999), in addition to United Nations peacekeeping missions.
For over three decades, a detachment has served at the world’s highest and coldest battlefield, the Siachen Glacier, while the regiment also contributes to Rashtriya Rifles and mechanised formations in high-altitude regions.
Maintaining strict physical standards, only soldiers above six feet in height are enrolled, and their horses, bred by the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) and cared for at the 44 Military Veterinary Hospital, are at least 15.2 hands high.
The ceremonial escort, meticulously trained over months, is organised into two divisions flanking the President’s Buggy. At the centre rides the Nishaan Toli, bearing the two regimental Standards, while the front division, led by Risaldar Major Niranjan Ohlyan, and the rear division, commanded by Risaldar Vinod Kumar, maintain flawless formation.
The ceremonial uniforms are a striking display of tradition: blue and gold pagris, red angrakhas with gold girdles, white gloves and breeches, and black boots with spurs.
The troopers carry the Ballam, a 9-foot-9-inch hand-crafted lance symbolising “Apmaan se pehle Balidaan” (sacrifice over humiliation), while officers and JCOs wield the Kirach, the cavalry sword.
The horses, adorned in ornate shabracks, throat ornaments, and white brow bands, are revered as Surya Putra, inspired by legendary warriors like Maharana Pratap and Rani Laxmibai.
January 2026 marks 75 years since the regiment was designated as the President’s Bodyguard in 1950, cementing its legacy as the pride of India.
Today, as their war cry “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” echoed across Kartavya Path, the elite Airborne Cavalry showcased a living tradition of honour, discipline, and unparalleled ceremonial splendour.
