Displaying their extraordinary musical talent, the Indian Armed Forces bands showed that apart from fighting with enemy on border, they can also make people tap their feet, swoon over the melodies they play. like every year the Armed Forces performed at the Beating Retreat ceremony on Friday, concluding the four-day long Republic Day celebrations.
For the first time, bands from the State Police and Central Armed Police Force also performed at the ceremony.
The event began with the arrival of President in his open gold-plated Buggy after a one year break. Three decades after its discontinuation at public functions due to security reasons, the buggy was used at the ceremony in 2014. In 2015 he used his limousine to arrive. Along with the President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and the chiefs of the forces also attended the event.
15 Military Bands, 18 Pipes and Drums Bands from Regimental Centres and Battalions participated in the ceremony. The event began with national anthem followed by the song Kadam Kadam Badhaye ja which was performed by massed bands including performers from Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Airforce. The soldiers paraded in synchronised manner while playing trumphets and drums.
Then arrived the soldiers for a quick march forming the shape of swastik carrying Bagpipers and drums singing melodious tunes like ‘The High road to linton’ and ‘loudon’s Bonnie woods and braes’ among others.
This was followed by various bands including Military Band, State Police and CAPF Bands, Air Force band and Navy Bands. The bands enthralled the audience by playing songs like ‘Aye mere pyare watan’, Bharat humko jaan se pyara hai, Kandho se miltey hain Kandhe, Dil diya hai jaan bhi denge, Takat ki watan hamse hai, AR Rehman’s Vande Matarm, and lata Mangeshkar’s Aye mere watan k logon. The soldiers performing in groups used Sitar, Tabla, Trumphet Violin which received showers of praises from people who couldn’t stop them self from clapping and singing.
The Naval bands drew the maximum lime light with their drumming skills who also grooved while playing drums. As soon as the ceremony ended, the Rahstrapati Bhawan, North and South Block, and the Parliament was lit up leaving people in delight.