Image Source: PTI Beating Retreat Ceremony 2025
Every year on 29 January, a Beating Retreat Ceremony is organized at Vijay Chowk in Delhi. With this, the Republic Day program lasting for 4 days ends. In front of Rashtrapati Bhavan, bands of the three armies of the country present programs with patriotic tunes in the Beating Retreat Ceremony. Which consists of bands of Army, Air Force and Navy. Beating Retreat has a brilliant parade as Republic Day. To celebrate this celebration, all places from India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhavan are decorated with beautiful lights. Let us know what is the tradition of celebrating Beating Retreat?
What is the tradition of beating retreat
All three armies of the country reach Delhi for the Republic Day parade and ceremony and the rehearsal of the parade starts months in advance. A grand parade is organized on Republic Day in which the military forces of the three armies of the country perform their wonderful exhibitions of their strength and ability. 'Beating the Retreat Ceremony' is organized on the fourth day of Republic Day. Beating Retreat Ceremony means return to the army barrack. This tradition has been going on since the time of King Maharajas. In which the forces fought the war throughout the day and then after sunset, military would stop the war. At that time a music played which was called Beating Retreat. After Republic Day, the beat retreat is also celebrated keeping in mind the same tradition. In which the national flag is tilted after the national anthem after sunset.
Who is the Chief Guest of Beating Retreat
Many well -known celebrities from the Prime Minister of the country join the Beating Retreat Ceremony. But the chief guest of this ceremony is the first citizen of the country. As soon as the President arrives at Vijay Chowk, he is given the National Salute with the national anthem. The bands of the three armies perform music while marching with national tunes. After this, the major band master goes to the President and asks for permission to take back the bands. Which means that the Republic Day program has now ended. Finally, the program of 'Saare Jahan Se Achhe' ends.
When beating retreat started in India
The Beating Retreat in India began in the 1950s. In 1955, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were on state visit to India. At that time, Major Roberts of the Indian Army had a Kalpana of the Beating Retreat Ceremony in India for the first time, which was completed by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who was then Prime Minister. Since then, a beat retreat ceremony is organized every year on the third day of Republic Day in India. Apart from India, a beat retreat ceremony is also organized in Britain, America, Canada and many other countries.
Image Credit: India-Tv.