BEATING RETREAT CEREMONY – POLITY
News: Mesmerizing
Beating Retreat ceremony brings an end to Republic Day celebrations
What's in the news?
● With
rain drops falling and foot-tapping music playing on the ground, the Beating
Retreat ceremony was held at Vijay Chowk
opposite the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, marking an end to the
four-day Republic Day celebrations.
Beating Retreat Ceremony:
● Major
Roberts of the Indian Army indigenously developed the unique ceremony of
display by the massed bands.
● The
idea marks a centuries-old military tradition when the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the
battlefield to return to their camps at sunset at the sound of the Retreat.
● It
would be accompanied by certain
protocols, such as the lowering of flags.
Who presides the ceremony?
● The
Retreat ceremony was presided over by the President
of India.
● The
ceremony also attended by Prime Minister of India, Union Defence Minister and
other important Cabinet Ministers along with the special guest invitees.
Features:
● The
bands are a unique feature, and this year 29
Indian tunes will be played by the music bands of the Army, the Navy, the Air
Force and the State Police and the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF). The
bands play the songs and the national flag is unfurled.
● Military
Bands, Pipes and Drums Bands, Buglers and Trumpeters from various Army
Regiments perform during the ceremony.
● Besides,
there are bands from the Navy and Air Force. Most of the tunes being played by
the Army’s Military Bands are based on Indian tunes.