From “feet shuffle” to “side slide”, the bands of the Armed Forces cast a magical spell at Vijay Chowk as symphonies flowed from the musical instruments.
The spectators applauded their dexterity during Beating Retreat when the bands reeled on patriotic melodies one after another.
The riveting performance brought up the era back when soldiers used to play high beats to boost the morale of forces during the wartime.
While the sun was slowly going down, the cool breeze at Raisina Hills reverberated with the magical rendition as bands played “Stand up and Fight.. the valor and sacrifice of our ancestors should never go in vain !!
Master of the Ceremony Squadran leader G Jayachandran, the bands of Army, Navy and Air Force engrossed the President of India, Pranab Mukharjee, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the chiefs of tri services. A host of other dignitaries clapped as the bands inter-changed their positions to play different tunes.
Commencing from “Bharat Hamko Jan se Payara hai” to “Sare Jahan Se Accha, the bands evoked patriotic emotions among the spectators on with mix of Indian and Western compositions while the dominance of the Desi tunes added special flavour to the ceremony.
The tunes rendered were Patni Top, Mony Musk, Jak Wilson, General Tappy, Scotland the Brave, Jal Nidhi, Sky lark, Veer Bharat, Pyari Bhumi, Take to the Sky, Victory Dhun, Air Force Colours, Benihal, Indian Fleet, Admirals Ensignia, Jai Bharti,Appu, Call of the Heart, Gulmarg, Drummers Call, Army Star, Abide with Me and lastly the ever-popular Sare Jahan Se Acha. As many as 26 performances on the historic Vijay Chowk, mostly composed by Indian musicians thrilled the audience with patriotic fervour.
16 Military Bands, 16 Pipes and Drums Bands from Regimental Centres and Battalions participated in Beating the Retreat ceremony.
Besides one each of Indian Army, Navy and Air Force (IAF), another band of the State Police and CAPF comprising Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Delhi Police also participated in the ceremony.
While Army bands was piloted by Subedar Major Hemraj the Navy and Air Force band commanders were lead by Master Chief Petty Officer Ramesh Chand and Junior Warrant Officer Ashok Kumar respectively.
The conductor of the State Police and CRPF bands was Inspector lal Singh whereas buglers were performed under the leadership of Sub Parbat Singh and pipes and drums bands were played under the instructions of Sub Maj Gopal Singh.
‘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.
The ceremony 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.