New Delhi is set for a grand musical finale with the Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk on Thursday, officially concluding the 77th Republic Day festivities. This tradition combines military precision with patriotic tunes, creating a display of national pride against the backdrop of Raisina Hills. The event will be attended by President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Ministers, officials, and the public.
The ceremony will kick off with massed bands performing ‘Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja’. Various ensembles, including Pipes and Drums, Central Armed Police Forces bands, Indian Air Force band, Indian Navy band, and Indian Army band, will present a range of musical pieces. The evening will culminate with buglers playing ‘Sare Jahan Se Acha’, symbolizing unity and spirit, under the direction of principal conductor Squadron Leader Leimapokpam Rupachandra Singh.
Individual contingents will be led by distinguished personnel from different branches, adding a cultural touch by naming seating enclosures after Indian classical instruments. The Beating Retreat ceremony, rooted in colonial-era military customs but now showcasing indigenous tunes, has become a significant portrayal of India’s armed forces’ discipline, bravery, and cultural richness.
