New Delhi: This year's "Beating the Retreat" ceremony, which was attended by President Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Droupadi Murmu on January 29 at Vijay Chowk in the national capital, featured Indian songs based on Indian Classical Ragas. The ceremony was also attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Tunes Based On Indian Classical Ragas
At the onset of the ceremony, the massed band's "Agniveer" tune was played followed by enthralling tunes like "Almora", "Kedar Nath", "Sangam Dur", "Queen of Satpura", "Bhagirathi", "Konkan Sundari" by pipes and drums band.
On the other hand, Indian Air Force's band played "Aprajey Arjun", "Charkha", "Vayu Shakti", "Swadeshi", while fascinating "Ekla Cholo Re", "Hum Taiyyar Hai", and "Jai Bharati" were played by the band of Indian Navy.
The Indian Army's band played "Shankhnaad", "Sher-e-Jawan", "Bhupal", "Agranee Bharat", "Young India", "Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja", "Drummers Call", and "Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon".
The event came to a close with the ever-popular tune "Sare Jahan se Accha".
The principal conductor of the ceremony was Flt Lt Leimapokpam Rupachandra Singh. While the Army Band was led by Sub Maj Diggar Singh, the Naval and Air Force band commanders M Anthoni Raj and Warrant Officer Ashok Kumar respectively. The State Police and CAPF bands were conducted by Assistant Sub-Inspector Prem Singh.
The Buglers performed under the leadership of Naib Subedar Santosh Kumar Pandey, and pipes and drums band played under the instructions of Subedar Major Baswaraj Vagge.
The annual "Beating the Retreat" ceremony on January 29 at the Vijay Chowk marks the end of the four-day Republic Day celebrations. When the Colors and Standards are paraded, it has become a symbol of national pride.
The Indian Army Major Roberts who developed the one-of-a-kind display ceremony by massed bands in the early 1950s is where the ceremony got its start. The practice of withdrawing from the battlefield, sheathing their arms, and returning to their camps at sunset to the sound of the Retreat is a military custom that dates back hundreds of years. Flags are lowered and standards and colors are cased. The ceremony brings back memories of simpler times.