France today celebrated its national holiday with a grand Bastille Day Parade in Paris by deploying more than 100,000 police across the country. There are ceremonies in France's towns and cities.
The nation had its worst rioting in nearly 20 years after a North African teenager shot by a police officer, exposing rage over systemic inequality and racial discrimination. This year's celebrations of the French Revolution's starting on July 14, 1789, take place in the wake of these events.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the guest of honor at this year's Bastille Day Parade, watching alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.
Before thousands of French soldiers, about 240 Indian soldiers marched down the Champs-Elysees, while Indian jets produced in France joined the aerial display.
6,500 marching participants, 94 aircraft and helicopters, 219 ground vehicles, 200 horses, and 86 pets were all present at the Bastille Day parade.
The French-built Rafale fighter jets India purchased in 2015 participated in a fly-past above the Arc de Triomphe as Modi and President Emmanuel Macron observed French and Indian soldiers marching down the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris
India PM Modi tweeted “It is with great humility that I accept the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. This is an honour for the 140 crore (1.4 billion) people of India.