SAMRIDHI SAJOTRA
Beating Retreat Ceremony, held on 29January of every year at Vijay Chowk, New Delhi, brings the Republic Day Celebrations to a ceremonial close.A musical performance by bands of the Indian Army,Navy,Air Force and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) is presented in front of a distinguished audience of national leaders and the public. It is a ceremony in which Tradition, Discipline and Melody march together in harmony to create a rhythmic atmosphere that beholds the spectator in a profound mix of amazement, pride and reverence.
‘Beating Retreat’ is a centuries-old military tradition marking the end of the day’s military operations. At sunset, a signal to recall the troops was given. On the sound of the retreat,they used to stop fighting, sheathe their arms and withdraw from the battlefield.Colours and Standards were cased and flags lowered. Mentions of such tradition taking place can also be found in ancient Indian texts.
In India, the first Beating Retreat Ceremony with military bands was conducted in 1955, by Brig Bewoor and Major Roberts, for the state visit of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
Since then, this ceremony has evolved andis now organized every year in India by the Ministry of Defence on the evening of 29 January, as an annual celebration to mark the formal closure of the Republic Day Festivities and to pay tribute to the bravery, courage, discipline and sacrifice of the Indian Defence Forces.
The Beating Retreat Ceremony is conducted at Vijay Chowk, New Delhi. The musical evening begins with the arrival of the Chief Guest- The President of India, escorted by the Presidents Bodyguards (PBGs) (a cavalry unit).As the President arrives to the venue the PBGs present the National Salute,the Tricolour is unfurled and simultaneously the National Anthem is played. This marks the beginning of the ceremony.
Massed Bands i.e. the combined musical ensembles of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), are the performers.They consist of professional soldiers. The tunes played have a nationalistic fervour, with some being renditions of iconic Indian songs. Personnel of these military bands; dressed in their uniform while carrying their instruments; march in harmony, formintricate patterns and play an array of foot tapping compositions;making the performance extremely magnetic both visually and sonically. They are synchronized, their formations are precise and the tunes are melodious.
With sunset, the ceremony eventually draws to a close.The sounding of the retreat signals closure.The National Flag is lowered and folded with dignity, due protocol and respect. The Principal Conductor then marches towards the President and requests for permission to take the bands away.The entire venue is illuminated. The PBGs arrive back to the venue and present the National Saluteto thePresident.The National Anthem is played again. The President along with the PBGs depart towards the Rashtrapati Bhavan, bringing the ceremony to conclusion.
This year the Beating Retreat Ceremony was conducted on the evening of 29 January 2026, bringing a ceremonial close to the 77th Republic Day Celebrations.It was attended by Honourable PresidentSmt. Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh,Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, the three Service Chiefs,other dignitaries and the public.
A fusion of Indian Classical Music with traditional military band instruments was seen in the performance. Even the seating enclosures at Vijay Chowk were named after Indian musical instruments i.e., Bansuri, Damaru, Ektara, Esraj, Mridangam, Nagada, Pakhawaj, Santoor, Sarangi, Sarinda, Sarod, Shehnai, Sitar, Surbahar, Tabla and Veena.Squadron Leader Leimapokpam Rupachandra Singh was the principal conductor for the event.
The programme began with the Massed Band’s iconic tune ‘Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja’. This was followed by an array of serenating performances bydifferentmilitary bands.Their formations highlighted events like- 150 Years of Vande Mataram, Operation Sindoor, Gaganyaan Mission,ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Win etc.Some of the tunes played were- ‘Atulya Bharat’,’Vijay Bharat’, ‘Jai Ho’, ‘Brave Warrior’, ‘Flying Star’, ‘Namaste’, ‘Vijayi Bharat’, ‘Aarambh Hai Prachand’, ‘Ae Watan, Ae Watan’, ‘Anand Math’ and many more.
The final performance by the Massed Bands was, ‘Bharat Ki Shaan’, ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Drummer’s Call’.The concluding song was the popular tune ‘Saare Jahan Se Achha’. The performance was followed by a captivating illumination of Rashtrapati Bhavan, North Block, South Block and Parliament.
The Beating Retreat Ceremony is a dignified tradition that showcases and celebrates India’s rich military legacy, through music and precision. It is a reflection of the timeless ethos of our defence forces, their discipline, valour, sacrifice and unity. A tribute to their strength, perseverance and cultural heritage. An annual musical extravaganza that nurtures patriotic sentiment and instils national pride in each and every Indian citizen.
