Beating Retreat ceremony: A celebration of India’s military might and cultural heritage

On January 29, the historic Vijay Chowk will host the ‘Beating Retreat’ ceremony, featuring captivating and inspiring tunes by the finest military and paramilitary bands. This ceremony marks the culmination of the four-day Republic Day celebrations, which began on January 26 with a spectacular parade on the Kartavya Path, showcasing India’s military power and cultural heritage.

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As the Sun sets over the majestic Raisina Hills, the Rashtrapati Bhavan and surrounding buildings will be illuminated with colourful lights, creating a spectacular sight for the audience. The music bands of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, and Central Armed Police Forces will perform soul-stirring and foot-tapping Indian tunes before a distinguished audience.

Beating Retreat

The ceremony marks a centuries-old military tradition, wherein troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms, withdrew from the battlefield, and returned to their camps at sunset upon the sounding of the Retreat. In India, the ceremony signifies the culmination of Republic Day festivities. It is presided over by the President of India, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and attended by the Vice-President, the Prime Minister, the Raksha Mantri, ministers, top officials, and general public.

Over the years, it has evolved into a grand event that embodies national pride, marked by the ceremonial parade of the Colours and Standards.

The history

The military ceremony, which dates back to the 17th-century England, was originally used to recall nearby patrolling units to their castle. It was known as “watch setting” and initiated at sunset by the firing of a single round from the evening gun. In India, the ceremony was first held in the 1950s during the state visit of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Since then, it has become an annual event to pay tribute to the valour and sacrifice of the Indian Armed Forces.

Major Roberts of the Indian Army developed the unique ceremony of display by the massed bands. According to the Ministry of Defence, the ceremony marks a centuries-old military tradition, and involves casing the Colours and Standards and lowering flags, evoking nostalgia for times gone by.

Indian tunes

The ceremony creates nostalgia for times gone by. Major Roberts of the Indian Army developed the unique ceremony of display by the massed bands. Over time, the ceremony has undergone significant changes. Tunes associated with the British and colonial era are no longer part of the ceremony.

In 2016, 20 out of 26 performances were composed by Indian musicians, marking a shift towards indigenous music. Nowadays, only Indian tunes are played by the participating bands. In 2022, the Centre dropped “Abide With Me”, said to be Mahatma Gandhi’s “favourite hymn”.

The ceremony has also become more inclusive. In 2016, bands from the State Police and Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) performed for the first time. The ceremony now features a diverse range of performances, including those by the Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP), and Delhi Police, who play tunes like ‘Samvidhan’, ‘Abhinandan’ and ‘Carriappa’.

In 2024, the ceremony started with the massed band’s ‘Shankhnaad’ and was followed by ‘Veer Bharat’, ‘Sangam Dur’, ‘Deshon ka Sartaj Bharat’, ‘Bhagirathi’, and ‘Arjuna’ by the Pipes and Drums band.

The CAPF bands played ‘Bharat Ke Jawan’ and ‘Vijay Bharat’ among others. Among the tunes played by the Indian Air Force band were ‘Tiger Hill’, ‘Rejoice in Raisina’ and ‘Swadeshi’.

The Indian Navy played ‘INS Vikrant’, ‘Mission Chandrayaan’, ‘Jai Bharati’ and ‘Hum Tayyar Hain’ and the Indian Army band ‘Faulad Ka Jigar’, ‘Agniveer’, ‘Kargil 1999’, ‘Taqat Watan’ among others.

The massed bands’ rendition included ‘Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja’, ‘Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon’, and ‘Drummers Call’. The event concluded with the ever-popular tune ‘Sare Jahan Se Acha’. Over the past couple of years, drones have been lighting up the evening sky over the Raisina Hills, weaving myriad forms through effortless synchronisation and adding a new dimension to the ceremony.