Republic Day celebrations conclude with Beating Retreat ceremony

New Delhi, Jan 29 : The 59th Republic Day celebrations concluded here today with the "Beating Retreat" ceremony.

The ceremony signifies the retreat by armed forces after a day at the battlefront.

Thirty-five bands and bagpipers of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force enchanted the audience with their traditional musical scores.

President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Defence Minister A K Antony and the three services chiefs -- General Deepak Kapoor, Admiral Sureesh Mehta and Air Marshal Fali Homi Major -- were present at the function.

The atmosphere reverberated to the rhythmic beating of drums and the measured foot tapping of the performing soldiers.

The National Flag was lowered to the solemn accompaniment of the military band.

The army bugles sounded the last post marking the culmination of the ceremony.

ANI