Beating Retreat ceremony marks the end of 69th Republic Day celebrations

18 Military Bands, 15 Pipes and Drums Bands from Regimental Centres and Battalions will be participating in the 2018 'Beating Retreat' ceremony.

Out of the 26 performances to be held at the Beating Retreat ceremony in New Delhi's Vijay Chowk on Monday evening, 25 tunes have been composed by Indian musicians. 'Beating the Retreat Ceremony' marks the end of Republic Day celebrations.

The location of the Beating the Retreat Ceremony in Delhi is at Vijay Chowk or the victory square, with the stately Rashtrapati Bhawan at the background.

As many as 26 performances will be held by the Army, Navy, Air Force, state police and Central Armed Police Force bands taking turns to enthrall the audience including the president and other dignitaries.

18 Military Bands, 15 Pipes and Drums Bands from Regimental Centres and Battalions will be participating in the 2018 'Beating Retreat' ceremony. Major Ashok Kumar will be the principal conductor of the ceremony.

Tri-services band perform during a full dress rehearsal for the Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk on Saturday

There will be 25 tunes prepared by the Indian musicians, including 'Indian Soldiers', 'Herana Heran', 'Mushkoh Valley', 'Tejas', 'The Great Marshal','Namaste India', among others. The only western tune will be 'Abide with me'. The event will come to a close with the ever-popular tune of 'Sare Jahan se Acha', a statement from Defence Ministry said.

Soldiers bring down the Tri-colour after the conclusion full dress rehearsal of Beating Retreat ceremony

At exactly 6 pm, the buglers sound the retreat and the National Flag is lowered to the National Anthem bringing the Republic Day celebrations to a formal end. One by one, the camels and the riders who stand stone-like throughout against the backdrop of the sky, move away from the background.

Vijay Chowk

The ceremony traces its origins to the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army developed the unique ceremony of display by the massed bands, said an ANI report.

An illuminated Raisina Hill after the rehearsal for the Beating Retreat ceremony in New Delhi on Sunday

'Beating Retreat' marks a centuries old military tradition. At the sounding of retreat, the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield, returning to their camps at sunset.

(Images credit - PTI)

OneIndia News with PTI inputs