Naval band led by officer for the 25th time

New Delhi, Jan 26 (PTI) It was silver jubilee for Navy's Master Chief Petty Officer Ramesh Chand Katoch, who led the naval band, at the Republic Day parade today. Katoch marched down the majestic Rajpath as part of the brass band for the 25th year in a row. He led 81 musicians at the parade playing the lilting tune 'Jai Bharati' as 144 elegantly dressed Navy men marched through the Rajpath. It was the 14th year he was leading the band at the parade. His counterparts in the Air Force played 'Air Battle' while the various army contingents marched to the tunes of 'Arjuna', Thimmaya, 'Gangotri' and 'Veer Gorkha' military numbers. The bands of paramilitary forces played 'Hum Hai Seema Suraksha Bal', 'Seva Bhakti Ka Yeh Prateek', 'Kadam Kadam Baraye Chal', 'Saare Jahan se Aacha' and 'Josh Bhara Hai Sine Main' among others.