• The 76th Republic Day Celebrations came to a close with the ‘Beating Retreat’ ceremony held at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi on January 29.
• Bands from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and the Central Armed Police Forces played 30 foot-tapping tunes before a distinguished audience comprising President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, among others.
• President Murmu arrived in the traditional buggy with the audience cheering as her open gold-plated carriage rolled down the Raisina hill.
• Only Indian tunes were played by all the participating bands.
• The event came to a close with the ever-popular tune ‘Sare Jahan Se Acha’, played by the Buglers.
• The principal conductor of the ceremony was Commander Manoj Sebastian.
What is Beating Retreat ceremony?
• ‘Beating Retreat’ is a centuries old military tradition. It dates back to the days when troops disengaged from battle at sunset. As soon as the buglers sounded the ‘retreat’, the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield.
• The ceremony at the Vijay Chowk in New Delhi on January 29 every year marks the culmination of the four-day-long Republic Day celebrations.
• The ceremony traces its origin to the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army indigenously developed the unique ceremony of display by the massed bands.
• The chief guest of the function is the President of India who arrives in a cavalry unit escorted by President’s Bodyguard (PBG) personnel.
• The President’s Bodyguard (PBG), raised in 1773, is the senior most regiment of the Indian Army. It is a regiment carrying out ceremonial duties for the President of India. The PBG personnel are excellent horsemen, capable tank men and paratroopers.
• Military bands, pipes and drums bands, buglers and trumpeters from various Army regiments perform during the ceremony. Besides, there are bands from the Navy and Air Force.
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