Republic Day Parade The Lion Capital at Rajpath decorated President's Body Guards in their winter ceremonial dress. Agni-II ballistic missile on display at Republic Day Parade 2004 To mark the importance of the occasion, every year a grand parade is held in the capital, New Delhi, from the Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati Bhavan (the President's residence), along the Rajpath , past India Gate . [1] Prior to its commencement, the Prime Minister lays a floral wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti , a memorial to unknown soldiers at the India Gate at one end of Rajpath, which is followed by two minutes silence in the memory of unknown soldiers. It is a solemn reminder of the sacrifice of the martyrs who died for the country in the freedom movement and the succeeding wars for the defence of sovereignty of their country. Thereafter he/she reaches the main dais at Rajpath to join other dignitaries, subsequentl