It starts at Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati Bhavan , along the Rajpath, and ends past India Gate. Every year, various units of the army, navy and the air force march past in pomp and circumstance, accompanied by bands and floats that represent states and government departments.
This year's parade will feature 27 floats: 25 will from states and two union government floats including National Election Commission of India. The best float will get a prize of Rs 50 lakhs, while the runner up will get Rs 25 lakh.
The competition seems quite intense. It became clear at a dress rehearsal on Thursday that Maharashtra will be depicted by a giant prawn. Uttarakhand, meanwhile, has decided to feature a shop with a man selling toilet cleaner.
1) Maharashtra
2) Chhattisgarh
3) Arunachal Pradesh
4) West Bengal
5) Uttarakhand