Beating the Retreat features rendition marking 50th anniversary of Indo-Pak war
New Delhi: Beating the Retreat ceremony, the conclusion of four-day-long Republic Day celebrations was held at Vijay Chowk here on Friday evening with a new rendition ‘Swarnim Vijay’ to mark the 50th anniversary of victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war.
In total, 15 military bands and an equal number of pipes and drums from regimental centres and battalions participated in the ceremony along with a band each of the Navy, Air Force and Central Armed Police Forces. As many as 26 musical performances enthralled the spectators near the historic Raisina Hills.
Apart from ‘Swarnim Vijay’, another two new tunes — ‘Tiranga Senani’ and ‘Nidar Yodha’–were performed by the Air Force Band.
The Naval Band played ‘Bharat Vandana’ and almost all the tunes by the Army Military Band were new.
The hour-long musical pomp commenced after the Chief Guest of the function President Ram Nath Kovind arrived in a cavalry unit escorted by the ‘President’s Bodyguards’ (PBG). The first tune ‘Fanfare By Buglers’ was played with the formal assent of the Supreme Commander of Defence Forces — Mr Kovind and ended with ‘Sare Jahan Se Accha’, followed by ‘Retreat By Buglers’.
Melodies such as Queen of Hill, Chandani, Bedupako, Sathi Bhai, India Gate were played by Pipes and Drums Band. Sitare Hind, Muskoh Valley and Giri Raj were played by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
And while the Air Force Band had tunes like ‘Nidar Yodha;, ‘Tiranga Senani’ and ‘Sky War’, the Naval Band performed ‘Bharat Vandana’ and ‘Jai Bharati’. The Army Military Band had prepared Garud Prahar, Army Star, Abhinandaniya Bharat, Sambodhan Eco and Bharat Ke Jawan.
The Massed Band charmed the audience with Drummers Call, Abide With Me, Retreat by Buglers and Sare Jahan Se Accha. The entire Rashtrapati Bhawan premises illuminated with the end of last performance, beginning its series of light shows.
Due to the pandemic, the programme was organized keeping the COVID-19 guidelines in mind as per which masks and social distancing were mandatory and a very limited number of media persons, camerapersons and spectators were accommodated at the venue.
First Lady Savita Kovind, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria PVSM were present on the occasion.
