Himachal Police band weaves magic at Indo-Pak border; raises patriotic spirit with melodious rendition of ‘Sabse Aage Honge Hindustani’

"Harmony of the Pines" orchestra team had reached the grand finale of Colours TV reality show, ‘Hunarbaaz’

A file photo of the Himachal Pradesh Police band performing at a function. Tribune File

IANS

Shimla, July 5

Men and women in khaki in Himachal Pradesh are literally hitting a high note through melodious renditions -- from performing in blockbuster television shows to connecting emotionally with patriotic songs on the country's borders.

Himachal Pradesh Police's famed orchestra team, “Harmony of the Pines”, performed this week on the Indian side of the Attari-Wagah International Border near Amritsar in Punjab amidst the presence of thousands of spectators by singing “Sabse Aage Honge Hindustani” sung by Shankar Mahadevan and Udit Narayan.

Our Orchestra, “Harmony of the Pines”, performing at the Indo- Pakistan Border in the BSF Pavilion Complex at Wagah- Attari, Amritsar yesterday evening.

Enjoy. pic.twitter.com/u1dq2JrWG4
— Sanjay Kundu, IPS (@sanjaykunduIPS) July 4, 2022

Border Security Force (BSF) troopers and the Pakistan Rangers perform a drill cheered by hundreds on the two sides as patriotic songs play in the background with chants of ‘Vande Matram’ and ‘Hindustan Zindabad’.

The flag-lowering, ceremonial drill and Beating Retreat is held every evening at the Joint Check Post, around 30 km from the holy city of Amritsar.

The entry of the public for the 40-minute flag-lowering ceremony at the land border was resumed on September 15 last year, an event marked by aggressive gestures and orchestrated boot-stomping, after remaining suspended since March 7, 2020, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It was a great evening at Attari border. World Peace Rally witnessed a wonderful evening and celebrated in honor of the martyrs and their families. We are very thankful with the presence of ‘Harmony of the Pine Orchestra’ from Himachal Pradesh Police to participate in the programme ‘Ek Sham Shahido Ke Naam’,” organiser Shree SAI Women and Children Welfare Trust tweeted on Monday.

It was a great evening at Attari border. World Peace Rally witnessed a wonderful evening and celebrated in honor of the martyrs and their families. We are very thankful with the presence of 'Harmony of the Pine Orchestra' @HFRIINDIA @GujaratPolice @BSF_Punjab pic.twitter.com/rDkkhRLhmi
— Shree SAI Women & Children Welfare Trust (@saiwcwtrust) July 4, 2022

Fifteen families of the BSF martyrs were honoured amid a musical event.

In the Colours TV reality show, 'Hunarbaaz', actress Hema Malini enjoyed the performances of the "Harmony of the Pines" that reached the grand finale.

The orchestra, led by Sub-Inspector Vijay Sharma, sang for Hema Malini, "Hume Tumse Pyaar Kitna" and danced with her.

According to Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjay Kundu, “Harmony of the Pines” came into existence in 1996.

“The orchestra started its journey with a humble beginning, wherein the talented police personnel of the state police were encouraged to perform in the programmes of the Police Department, charity-shows and programmes organised by the Red Cross Society. The orchestra also started performing in programmes organised by the Department of Language, Art and Culture, Doordarshan and other state-level fairs,” he said.

The DGP said the police leadership has been continuously supporting the orchestra team so that they could further improve their skills. They have recently been provided with the latest musical instruments and accessories and efforts were also being made to provide them with a dedicated studio to record their songs.

On this week's performance on the Indo-Pakistan border, Kundu tweeted on Monday, “Our orchestra, “Harmony of the Pines”, performing at the Indo-Pakistan Border in the BSF Pavilion Complex at Wagah-Attari, Amritsar, yesterday evening. Enjoy.”