Delhi's
festival calendar begins with the Republic Day parade on 26th January. It is
the most colorful of the city's festivals events and also the biggest crowd-puller.
Hundreds of thousands people line the route from Rajpath to the Red Fort to
watch the pageant of solders, camel crops, armored regiments, brass bands, folk
dancers, school children, war veterans and elaborate floats representing the
cultural diversity of India. The two hour long parade is usually rounded off
with a much-awaited spectacular fly - passed presented by Air Force squadrons.
A special display of folk dances also takes place at the Talkatora Stadium.
Three days later the Beating of the Retreat takes place at Vijay Chowk. Various
bands of the armed forces set the pace for marching troops against the grand
backdrop of Rashtrapati Bhawan. 
Bakhtyar
Kaki and at the hindu temple of Jogmaya, both in Mehrauli. The procession ends
with a formal ceremony at the Jahaz Mahal, a 16th - century pleasure resort
by the side of a lake.