30 melodies at Beating the Retreat

The Raisina Hill, home to the Central Government’s seat of power, will resonate with 30 distinct Indian melodies during the Beating the Retreat ceremony on Wednesday, marking the conclusion of the 76th Republic Day celebrations.

Bands from the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will perform these tunes before a distinguished audience at Vijay Chowk, with the grandeur of Raisina Hill as the backdrop, the Ministry of Defence announced.

The ceremony will open with the massed bands performing ‘Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja’, the inspirational song of the Subhas Chandra Bose-led Indian National Army. Penned by poet-lyricist Vanshidhar Shukla and set to music by Capt Ram Singh Thakur, the tune captures the spirit of the 1942-43 era.

The event will conclude with the iconic ‘Sare Jahan Se Accha’, composed by Muhammad Iqbal in 1904. This timeless piece was also performed at this year’s Republic Day Parade as the procession advanced along Kartavya Path.