Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives Chief Guest President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen during the 77th Republic Day Parade in New Delhi. | Photo credits: –
Von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa attended the Republic Day parade as chief guests, joining a select group of world leaders who attended the country’s largest ceremonial event in the past seven decades.
The spectators included President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, several other Union ministers, the country’s top military brass, foreign diplomats and senior officials.
“It is the honor of a lifetime to be the chief guests at the Republic Day celebrations. A successful India makes the world more stable, prosperous and secure. And we all benefit from that,” Von der Leyen said on social media after the ceremony.
It was the first time that two top leaders of the European Union (EU) attended India’s Republic Day celebrations as chief guests.
Costa and von der Leyen, accompanied by a powerful delegation, will hold summit talks with Modi on Tuesday.
A small EU military contingent, led by Colonel Frederik Simon Spruijt, also took part in the Republic Day parade.
During the parade, India displayed its military might, including marching elite contingents, missiles and indigenous weapon systems.
Every year, India invites world leaders to attend its Republic Day celebrations.
Last year, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was the chief guest, while French President Emmanuel Macron graced the occasion in 2024 and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in 2023.
In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no chief guest on Republic Day in 2021 and 2022.
In 2020, then Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was the chief guest at the event.
In 2019, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was the chief guest at the Republic Day parade, while in 2018, the leaders of all ten ASEAN countries attended the celebrations.
In 2017, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the chief guest at the festivities, while then French President Francois Hollande graced the occasion in 2016.
In 2015, then US President Barack Obama watched the parade as chief guest. Last year, then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the chief guest at the festivities, while Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck attended the parade in 2013.
Among the heads of state and government who attended the Republic Day celebrations are Nicolas Sarkozy, Vladimir Putin, Nelson Mandela, John Major, Mohammed Khatami and Jacques Chirac.
Then British Prime Minister Major attended the festivities in 1993, Mandela took part as then South African President in 1995, while South Korean President Lee Myung Bak witnessed the parade in 2010.
In 2008, Sarkozy took part in the festivities as French president, while another French president, Jacques Chirac, graced the occasion in 1998.
Other world leaders who have attended the celebrations include Nepal’s King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev in 1999, then President of Iran Khatami in 2003, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2011 and President of the Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in 1991.
Published on January 26, 2026
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