First INDIAN Woman President to take Salute on Repulic Day March...!!

It was a historic moment on Saturday, as Pratibha Patil, who drove to the Rajpath in her motorcade along with her French counterpart Nicholas Sarkozy, became the first woman to take the salute in her capacity as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces at Delhi's Rajpath on the 59th Republic Day.

Her husband Devisingh Shekhawat, who was mistakenly identified as Devisingh 'Patil' once by the commentator, was beside her when she took salute.

The crowds were out in full flow for the parade and amidst heavy security cover, the procession moved from Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati Bhawan to the Red Fort.

As always, India's weaponry was on display and for the first time this year, the new Agni-3 missile, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead more than 3000 kilometers.

And while the parade was held in Delhi, the school contingents from across the country truly made it a slice of India.

French President Nicholas Sarkozy, the Chief Guest at this year's parade, is on a two-day visit to India, during which several agreements between India and France have been signed. They include pacts on defence and civil nuclear cooperation, transfer of technology trade and education.

The different regiments of the Army, Navy and the Air Force in all their finery and official decorations made it a grand occasion.

A march past by the armed forces was followed by a fly past by India air force jets. Four army men were awarded the Ashok Chakra, the highest gallantry award.

And the tableaux this year by various states and departments were as colourful as ever.

In the wake of intelligence warning about possible terror strikes all intelligence agencies were on high alert.

Delhi was made a no-fly zone during the Republic Day parade, and public transport services including the Delhi metro train service were suspended till 1.30 pm. Around 20,000 security personnel were deployed across the capital while commandoes of the ITBP and Delhi Police took positions at strategic locations. (With PTI inputs)