Republic Day of India: colour, parades and celebration - in pictures

The 63rd Republic Day of India parade at Rajpath, New Delhi Photograph: Harish Tyagi/EPA

Performers wave to the crowd from the float of the Indian state of Goa, at Rajpath, New Delhi Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Indian Border Security Force soldiers perform a motorcycle stunt Photograph: Raveendran/AFP/Getty Images

Indian Border Security Force soldiers ride camels in formation Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Indian college girls help each other as they get ready to take part in Republic Day celebrations in Amritsar Photograph: Altaf Qadri/AP

An Indian soldier helped by others checks the footgear before taking part in the Republic Day parade in Kolkata Photograph: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP/Getty Images

Indian students dressed in costume perform in Kolkata Photograph: Bikas Das/AP

Indian army soldiers march on Rajpath in New Delhi Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

An Indian army soldier salutes dignitaries as he rides in a truck carrying SMERCH rockets on Rajpath, New Delhi Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Indian women dance during the main Republic Day parade in New Delhi Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Indian paramilitary soldiers march during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Thailand's prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, and India's president, Pratibha Patil, greet Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, upon their arrival at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi Photograph: B Mathur/Reuters

Indian youths perform a Punjabi traditional folk dance, the Giddha, in Amritsar Photograph: Narinder Nanu/AFP/Getty Images

Foreign Sikhs dressed as nihangs, or Sikh warriors, perform a traditional Sikh martial art called Gatka in Amritsar Photograph: Altaf Qadri/AP

Schoolchildren in costumes prepare to participate in an event in Bangalore Photograph: Jagadeesh Nv/EPA

Schoolchildren are silhouetted behind an Indian national flag in Bangalore Photograph: Jagadeesh Nv/EPA