Witnessing Republic Day Parade was always on my bucket list since childhood. During my school days I used to take part in such events and especially being into Army school it was a big opportunity to show your skills to Area Commander who used to be our Chief Guest. Never in the wildest of my dreams had I thought that I will be able to go to Delhi to see Republic Day live.
This January when I realized that I have the opportunity of witnessing the rehearsals of perfect march, I decided to work upon a photo story. First time when I went to cover the rehearsals on the chilly morning of December, I had to return empty-handed. I waited for a week and went again and this time I got lucky, taken approval from senior official helped and finally started shooting rehearsals closely. I still can’t believe that post that day my entire winter mornings were spent at Rajpath shooting rehearsals.
“March to Perfection” is a photo series on the Republic Day Rehearsals by Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, CRPF, Gorkha forces. They practice every year in the windy and chilly mornings of December and early January to make their every step synchronized when they perform to perfection on 26th January while the whole world watches them. This story highlights their daily routine, the practice, their exercise, their breaks, their synchronized march, patterns they form, lines they fall in and each and every aspect of the parade which shows them as one team, one nation. Above all, this story is a way to say thank you to these brave hearts who sacrificed their days and nights in guarding our motherland.
About Jai Thakur
Jai Thakur, a Business Research Analyst with one of the top-rated Wall Street firms started photography out of his passion for traveling and storytelling. Brought up in Bengdubi cantonment of Darjeeling district he is now based in Delhi. His work has been selected and displayed at various platforms like Where the Road Leads at Lalit Kala Academy, Sahitya Kala Parishad Annual Art Exhibition, NiceFoto (Delhi & Jaipur) and Jeevika: 10th Asian Livelihood Documentary Film Festival.
He won awards at the repute of PX3- Paris Photo Prize 2018, International Photography Awards (Harmony) – 2018, Monochrome Black and White International Photography Awards – 2018, 2017 & 2016, International Photography Awards – 2018, 2017 & 2016, Moscow International Foto Awards – 2016, International Photography Awards (Family of Man) – 2016, Tokyo International Foto Awards – 2016, Sahitya Kala Parishad Annual Art Exhibition 2015 (Govt. of Delhi NCT) and Jury Mention at Jeevika: 10th Asian Livelihood Documentary Film Awards. His work has been published in various media platforms be it print or online like National Geographic Your Shot, 121clicks, Photographer’s Magazine, Dodho Magazine, CityAir News, Indian Education Diary, etc. He is also a Brand Ambassador of Tripoto Pvt. Ltd. Other than photography he loves cooking and writing poems.
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Copyrights:
All the pictures in this post are copyrighted Jai Thakur. Their reproduction, even in part, is forbidden without the explicit approval of the rightful owners.
3 comments
They put in so much time and effort and it pays off. I’m sure they appreciate you documenting that time for them and showing people the dedication they put it. Thank you
Yes, they did in fact the temperature was below 10 degree at that time. Hats off to them.
Yes, they did in fact at times the temperature was below 7 degrees hence hats off to their efforts.