Article Posted on : - May 09, 2015

MOSCOW (PTI): The decorative 'safa' and the handlebar moustache of Indian Army contingent, participating in the Russia's victory day celebrations, are the centre of attraction among Russians here.

The 75-member team of the Indian Army Grenadiers is fully ready to participate in the event today to commemorate Russia's victory in the Great Patriotic War, is also winning hearts in Moscow for the marching skills, height and dress.

"Our team is attracting attention as we are tall, most of them around 6 feet, the colourful safa the soldiers wear and the unique uniform," said Colonel Digvijay Singh, the chief coordinator of the Indian Army contingent.

The marching contingent will be led by Captain Vikash Singh Suhag while the tricolour will be carried by Captain D P Singh.

The soldiers are brought from different formations of the Grenadiers Regiment.

"It is an honour for us to get an opportunity to participate in the Victory Day parade in Russia as India is one among the only ten countries which are taking part," said Suhag, who incidentally belongs to the same village from where Army chief Dalbir Singh Suhag comes from.

He said that unlike soldiers of the other countries, Indian army men move one hand while keeping the other hand on the gun. The soldiers of other participating nations do not move their hands.

The Indian team is staying together with the soldiers of China, Mongolia and Serbia in the same camp on the outskirts of Moscow.

"We are also playing games like volley ball, basket ball, tennis together with other soldiers," said Captain D P Singh.

Asked whether the jawans were not having problems while interacting with the army men of other countries, Singh said "a soldier does not require language".

However, the Indian army men are facing problems in food as all of the 75 men are vegetarians.

"We are mostly from the Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and vegetarians. But Russians are trying their best to accommodate our concerns. We appreciate that," Suhag said.

Asked whether the soldiers were having any problems living in the same camp with Chinese soldiers with whom the Indian Army had several face offs in recent past along the border, Subedar Naik Jugraj said that was not an issue as on occasions they went together for boat rides and to watch Moscow Circus.

Suhag said the Russians are also appreciating the Indian soldiers' capability to march up to 12-13 kilometres like in Republic Day parade as the Russian parade distance is just 800 to 900 metres.