Indian Army's Arjun MK-I tanks are driven for display during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26.

The colourful images of India’s cultural heritage, manoeuvres by fighter aircraft, military prowess and march past by armed forces were on majestic display at Rajpath on Sunday as the nation celebrated its 65th Republic Day amid tight security.

Marching down from the seat of power at Raisina Hills to Red Fort, the parade showcased India’s ‘unity in diversity’ and defence capabilities as thousands of spectators cheered the contingents and the mechanized columns along the 8-km-long route.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the chief guest at the event.

Among the proud highlights today was India's first indigenously designed and developed Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas, a fourth generation, supersonic, multi-role combat aircraft designed and developed by DRDO.

The weaponry put on display by the Indian Army included T-90 tank ‘Bheeshma’, multi-launcher rocket system Smerch, Brahmos weapon system and transportable satellite terminals.

Other attractions included main battle tank Arjun MK-II, the first indigenously designed and developed tank also referred to as 'Desert Ferrari'; recently-inducted transport aircraft C-130J Super Hercules, optimised for undertaking special operations; and the gigantic C-17 Globemaster, a heavy lift, long-range aircraft.

DRDO also displayed the 'Astra' and 'Helina' missiles, models of an underwater vehicle, mini UAV-NETRA, tracked surveillance vehicle Muntra S and unmanned aerial vehicle-'Nishant'.

A flypast by the Advanced Light Helicopter 'Dhruv' of the Army Aviation Corps drew loud cheers from the spectators.