India celebrated centuries old military tradition — ‘Beating the Retreat’ ceremony on Tuesday at Vijay Chowk.
No doubt, the performance of Tri Services (Army, Navy and Air force), Indian Paramilitary and state police enthralled the guests in the mesmerising evening in the foothills of Raisina hills but, this year, no Indian classical instrument was played, hence the Royal Indian battlefield tunes were absent.
Around 27 performances on the historic Vijay Chowk enthralled the spectators with captivating and foot-tapping music of Indian Armed Forces (IAF). But, people were missing the spellbinding tune of “Bharat Hamko Jaan Se Payara hai”, an Indian song sung by famous singer Hariharn.
The ceremony, attended by President Ram Nath Kovid, the Supreme Commander of all three services, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman , Minister of State for Defence Suresh Bhammre and Chief of three forces — Army , Navy and Air force. Ceremony started with quick march and different tunes -’ Indian Star’, ‘Paharon ki Rani’, ‘Kumaoni Geet’, ‘Jai Janam Bhumi’, ‘Queen of Satpura’, ‘Marooni’, ‘Vijay’, ‘Soldier-My Valentine’, ‘Bhupal’, ‘Vijay Bharat’, ‘Aakash Ganga’, ‘Gangotri’, ‘Namaste India’, ‘Samudrika’, ‘Jai Bharat’, ‘Young India’, ‘Veerta Ki Misal’, ‘Amar Senani’ and ‘Bhumiputra’ were played. The eight western tune played were ‘Fanfare by Buglers’, ‘Sound Barrier’, ‘Emblazoned’, ‘Twilight’, ‘Alert (Post Horn Gallop)’, ‘Space Flight’, ‘Drummers Call’ and ‘Abide with me’. The event closed with the ever-popular tune of ‘Sare Jahan se Acha’.
“Beating the Retreat” has emerged as an event of national pride when the Colors and Standards are paraded. The ceremony 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.
The ceremony marks a centuries old military tradition, when the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield and returned to the camps at sunset at the sounding of the Retreat. Colours and Standards are cased and flags lowered. The ceremony creates nostalgia for the times gone by.
Every year, the ceremony marks the culmination of the four - day - long Republic Day celebrations.
This year, 15 Military Bands, 15 Pipes and Drums Bands from Regimental Centres and Battalions participated the Retreat ceremony.
The principal conductor of the ceremony was Commander Vijay D’Cruz while Army Military bands conducted by Subedar Parwinder Singh and the Navy and Air Force band conductors were Master Chief Petty Officer Vincent Johnson and Junior Warrant Officer Ashok Kumar respectively.
The conductor of the State Police and CAPF bands was Inspector Ganesh Dutt Pandey. Buglers performed under the leadership of Subedar Digar Singh and pipes and drums bands will play under the instructions of Subedar Major Dev Singh Thapa.
