New Delhi: As the sun dips below the majestic Raisina Hills, the historic Vijay Chowk is set to reverberate with the soul-stirring strains of Indian tunes during the ‘Beating Retreat’ ceremony on January 29, 2024, marking the grand conclusion of the 75th Republic Day celebrations. Against the backdrop of illuminated government buildings, the music bands of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will collectively perform 31 captivating and foot-tapping Indian tunes.
The distinguished audience, including President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, other Union Ministers, senior officials, and the general public, will witness a spectacular musical display.
The ceremony will commence with the massed band’s ‘Shankhnaad’ tune, setting the stage for an evening filled with patriotic fervor. The Pipes and Drums band will enchant the audience with tunes like ‘Veer Bharat,’ ‘Sangam Dur,’ ‘Deshon ka Sartaj Bharat,’ ‘Bhagirathi,’ and ‘Arjuna.’ The CAPF bands will contribute to the musical spectacle with renditions of ‘Bharat Ke Jawan’ and ‘Vijay Bharat,’ among others.
The Indian Air Force band will showcase tunes like ‘Tiger Hill,’ ‘Rejoice in Raisina,’ and ‘Swadeshi,’ while the Indian Navy band will play melodies such as ‘INS Vikrant,’ ‘Mission Chandrayaan,’ ‘Jai Bharati,’ and ‘Hum Tayyar Hain.’ The Indian Army band will present a powerful repertoire including ‘Faulad Ka Jigar,’ ‘Agniveer,’ ‘Kargil 1999,’ and ‘Taqat Watan.’
Under the baton of Lt Col Vimal Joshi, the Massed Bands will collectively perform iconic tunes like ‘Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja,’ ‘Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon,’ and ‘Drummers Call.’ The ceremony will draw to a close with the timeless and resonant notes of ‘Sare Jahan se Acha.’
The principal conductor, Lt Col Vimal Joshi, along with the band conductors and leaders, will orchestrate a spellbinding musical experience. The Buglers, led by Naib Subedar Umesh Kumar, and the Pipes and Drums band, under Subedar Major Rajender Singh, will add to the melodic grandeur of the event.
‘Beating Retreat’ has its roots in the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army developed this unique ceremony of massed bands. The tradition pays homage to centuries-old military customs, symbolizing the end of the day’s conflict as troops withdrew from the battlefield at sunset. The ceremony, with its cased colours, lowered flags, and nostalgic tunes, encapsulates the spirit of a bygone era.