New Delhi, Jan 29: Soul-stirring strains of ‘Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja’ will resonate across Vijay Chowk on Thursday evening as massed bands of the Indian Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces perform at the Beating Retreat ceremony, marking the grand culmination of the 77th Republic Day celebrations.
Set against the majestic backdrop of Raisina Hill, the ceremony will unfold before an eminent gathering that includes President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, union Ministers, senior officials and members of the public.
The musical pageantry will begin with the Massed Bands rendering ‘Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja’, setting a resonant and martial tone for the evening. The Pipes and Drums band will follow with a colourful repertoire featuring ‘Atulya Bharat’, ‘Veer Sainik’, ‘Mili Jhuli’, ‘Nritya Sarita’, ‘Marooni’ and ‘Jhelum’. Bands of the Central Armed Police Forces will then present spirited compositions including ‘Vijay Bharat’, ‘Hathrohi’, ‘Jai Ho’ and ‘Veer Seepahi’.
The Indian Air Force band will captivate the audience with ‘Brave Warrior’, ‘Twilight’, ‘Alert’ and ‘Flying Star’, while the Indian Navy band will render melodious pieces such as ‘Namaste’, ‘Sagar Pawan’, ‘Matribhumi’, ‘Tejasvi’ and ‘Jai Bharati’. The Indian Army band will bring a powerful flourish with ‘Vijayee Bharat’, ‘Aarambh Hai, Prachand Hai’, ‘Aye Watan, Aye Watan’, ‘Anand Math’, ‘Sugamya Bharat’ and ‘Sitare Hind’.
In a grand musical convergence, the Massed Bands will perform ‘Bharat Ke Shaan’, ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Drummers Call’. The ceremony will conclude on an emotional note as buglers play the timeless ‘Sare Jahan Se Achha’, bringing a serene close to the evening.
Squadron Leader Leimapokpam Rupachandra Singh will serve as the Principal Conductor. The Indian Army band will be led by Subedar Major Prakash Joshi, the Indian Navy band by M. Antony, MCPO MUS II, and the Indian Air Force band by Warrant Officer Ashok Kumar. Inspector Chetram will conduct the CAPF band, while Subedar S.P. Chourasia will direct the Pipes and Drums ensemble. The Buglers will perform under the leadership of Subedar Manoj Kumar.
Adding a cultural touch, seating enclosures at Vijay Chowk have been named after traditional Indian musical instruments such as Bansuri, Damaru, Ektara, Esraj, Mridangam, Nagada, Pakhawaj, Santoor, Sarangi, Sarinda, Sarod, Shehnai, Sitar, Surbahar, Tabla and Veena.
The Beating Retreat ceremony, rooted in centuries-old military tradition where drums and bugles signalled troops to withdraw at sunset, has evolved into one of India’s most iconic ceremonial events. First held in its present form in 1955 during the visit of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, it was conceptualised by Major G.A. Roberts and supported by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Each year, the ceremony begins with the arrival of the President, escorted by the President’s Bodyguard, followed by a formal salute and the national anthem. As dusk settles, combined bands perform a sequence of martial and patriotic tunes before the traditional bugle call for Retreat and the lowering of the national flag, a dignified finale to the Republic Day festivities.