New Delhi, Jan 15 (IANS) With their maroon berets, camouflage uniforms, and black boots, soldiers of the Parachute Regiment stole the show at the Army Day parade here Monday, receiving loud applause as they strode past the saluting base at a quick trot.

The army chief, Gen. J.J. Singh, took the salute at the parade and gave away gallantry awards to 16 personnel, four of them posthumously. He also presented citations to seven units for excellence in performance as a team.

Major Manesh Kukreti of the Jat Regiment received the Sena Medal for a second time. Angela Rathi received the medal awarded to her late husband Major Amit Rathi of the Armoured Corps, while Ranjeet Kaur received the medal award to her late husband Naib Subedar Avtar Singh of the Sikh Regiment.

Baljeet Kaur, the mother of Sepoy Roshan Singh of the Punjab Regiment, and Mahadevi, mother of Sepoy Sundra N of the Maratha Light Infantry, received the other two Sena medals awarded posthumously.

Among the units felicitated, 36 Rashtriya Rifles received the Unit Citation for a record fourth time, while 3 Para (Special Forces) received it for a third time.

The parade comprised marching contingents from eight infantry regiments and one Territorial Army battalion affiliated to the Maratha Light Infantry.

The parade, commanded by Maj. Gen. P.C. Bhardwaj, General Officer Commanding of Delhi area, also showcased a Mobile Base Trans-receiver Station, an Army Wide Area Network (AWAN) mobile mode and a Mobile Decontamination Station.

For the first time, a tableau of the Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) formed a part of the parade. It depicted equestrian sports, breeding of horses and army dogs at work.

A fly past by the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and a daredevil display by the "Shwet Ashw" motorcycle team of the Corps of Military Police provided the grand finale.

Besides the army chief, who inspected and addressed the parade, Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, the Indian Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi, and the Indian Navy chief, Admiral Sureesh Mehta, also took salutes.

On Jan 15, 1949 for the first time an Indian, Field Marshal (then General) K.M. Cariappa took over as Commander-in-Chief of the army. The parade commemorates that event.