<p>Ending uncertainty about its participation, the camel contingent of the BSF has been asked to be part of the iconic Republic Day parade next Tuesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>After missing the first two dress rehearsals for the parade, the Border Security Force (BSF) camel contingent, one of the most important attractions of the parade, was asked on Tuesday evening to attend Wednesday’s dress rehearsal.<br /><br />“We were told by the Defence Ministry last evening to participate in the rehearsal,” a senior BSF official said. The BSF camel contingent had not participated in the dress rehearsals conducted on January 17 and 18. <br /><br />Though the squad has been in the capital for the last three months, there was no intimation for participating in the rehearsals for January 26 parade. <br /><br />Since 1976<br /><br />The 90-camels contingent — 54 with troops and rest with band personnel — first became part of the parade in 1976. Till then, a similar squad of the Army was participating in the Republic Day parade.<br /><br />The first part displays smartly-dressed BSF guards with weapons riding camels while the second follows with bandsmen in beautiful multi-colour dresses on the back of camels playing martial music.<br /><br />The BSF has a camel contingent for both operational and ceremonial duties. BSF personnel use camels for patrolling along the Thar desert running along the Indo-Pak International Border in Rajasthan. Sources said the camel contingent may also now be included in the Beating the Retreat ceremony to be held on January 29.<br />DH News Service</p>
<p>Ending uncertainty about its participation, the camel contingent of the BSF has been asked to be part of the iconic Republic Day parade next Tuesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>After missing the first two dress rehearsals for the parade, the Border Security Force (BSF) camel contingent, one of the most important attractions of the parade, was asked on Tuesday evening to attend Wednesday’s dress rehearsal.<br /><br />“We were told by the Defence Ministry last evening to participate in the rehearsal,” a senior BSF official said. The BSF camel contingent had not participated in the dress rehearsals conducted on January 17 and 18. <br /><br />Though the squad has been in the capital for the last three months, there was no intimation for participating in the rehearsals for January 26 parade. <br /><br />Since 1976<br /><br />The 90-camels contingent — 54 with troops and rest with band personnel — first became part of the parade in 1976. Till then, a similar squad of the Army was participating in the Republic Day parade.<br /><br />The first part displays smartly-dressed BSF guards with weapons riding camels while the second follows with bandsmen in beautiful multi-colour dresses on the back of camels playing martial music.<br /><br />The BSF has a camel contingent for both operational and ceremonial duties. BSF personnel use camels for patrolling along the Thar desert running along the Indo-Pak International Border in Rajasthan. Sources said the camel contingent may also now be included in the Beating the Retreat ceremony to be held on January 29.<br />DH News Service</p>
