Salient feature of this year’s Beating Retreat Ceremony lies in the fact that 10 new compositions are being played for the first time – four by Army (‘Jahan Daal Daal Pe Sone ki Chidiya’, ‘Swarnim Desh’, ‘Blessing of the God’ and ‘Dhruv’) and six by Navy and Air Force (‘Skylord’, ‘Brave Warriors’, ‘Stride’, ‘The Western Seas’, ‘Rejoice in Raisina’ and ‘Fidos’).
Also for the first time ‘Gagan Damama Bajio’ quick march tune is being played in Beating the Retreat Ceremony. Other than ‘Abide with Me’ and ‘Sare Jahan Se Accha’ rest of the tunes are being played after a gap of six or more years.
This year for the first time Indian Army is introducing a drum ‘Tum Tum’ comprising of four sets of small drums in the Beating the Retreat Ceremony.
The ceremony at the Vijay Chowk on January 29th every year marks the culmination of the four-day-long Republic Day celebrations. This year, 14 Military Bands, 17 Pipes and Drums Bands, 85 Buglers and 14 Trumpeters from various Regiments of Army are participating in Beating the Retreat Ceremony. Besides, four Military Bands each of Indian Navy and Indian Air Force will also form part of the event.
The principal conductor of the Beating Retreat ceremony will be Sqn Ldr G Jayachandran while military bands conductor will be Subedar Major (Musician) Ramesh Singh and Navy and Air Force bands commander will be Master Chief Petty Officer (Musician) Ramesh Chand. Buglers will perform under the leadership of Subedar Major (Musician) Hem Raj and pipes and drums bands will play under the instructions of Subedar Major (Musician) Vijayan TV.
‘Beating the Retreat’ has emerged as an event of national pride when the Colours and Standards are paraded. The ceremony traces its origins to the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army indigenously developed the unique ceremony of display by the massed bands.
‘Beating Retreat’ marks a centuries old military tradition, when the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield and returned to the camps at sunset at the sounding of the Retreat. Colours and Standards are cased and flags lowered. The ceremony creates a nostalgia for the times gone by.
