‘Beating Retreat’ ceremony, marking culmination of Republic Day celebrations to be held today
New Delhi: As part of Republic Day Celebrations, the ‘Beating Retreat’ ceremony will be held at the historic Vijay Chowk in New Delhi today. Music bands of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will play 31 captivating and foot-tapping Indian tunes. More from our correspondent.
The ceremony will begin with the massed band’s Shankhnaad tune. It will be followed by enthralling tunes such as Veer Bharat, Sangam Dur, Deshon ka Sartaj Bharat and Bhagirathi, and Arjuna by Pipes and Drums band. The CAPF bands will play Bharat Ke Jawan and Vijay Bharat among others. Tiger Hill, Rejoice in Raisina, and Swadeshi are among the tunes to be played by the band of the Indian Air Force, while the audience will witness the Indian Navy band playing several tunes, including INS Vikrant, Mission Chandrayaan, Jai Bharati, and Hum Tayyar Hain. The Indian Army band will play Faulad Ka Jigar, Agniveer, Kargil 1999, and Taqat Watan among others. The Massed Bands will, then, play the tunes Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja, Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon, and Drummers Call. The event will come to a close with the ever-popular tune of Sare Jahan se Acha.
Beating Retreat traces its origins to the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army indigenously developed the unique ceremony of display by the massed bands. It marks a centuries-old military tradition, when the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms, withdrew from the battlefield, and returned to the camps at sunset at the sounding of the Retreat. Colours and Standards are cased and flags are lowered. The ceremony creates nostalgia for the times gone by.
Delhi Traffic Police has made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Beating Retreat ceremony. In its advisory, it said that traffic restrictions will be in place from 2 pm to 9.30 pm and Vijay Chowk will remain closed for general traffic. It added that traffic will not be allowed on Rafi Marg between Sunehri Masjid roundabout and Krishi Bhawan, Raisina Road from Krishi Bhawan roundabout towards Vijay Chowk and Kartavya Path between Vijay Chowk and C Hexagon. The People have been requested to plan their journey in advance and keep sufficient time to avoid inconvenience.
