New Delhi: New tunes composed by Indian musicians featured prominently at the ‘Beating Retreat’ ceremony on Thursday, which marks the culmination of the four-day-long Republic Day celebrations.
Fifteen military bands and 18 pipes and drums bands from regimental centres and battalions participated in the ceremony. Besides, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, too, had a band each performing at the event.
Meanwhile, Delhi Metro services have been curtailed at two stations today as part of security arrangements for the ‘Beating Retreat’ ceremony. Beating Retreat owes its origins to an ancient custom when warring armies would call a halt at sundown, case colours and standards and lower flags to attend to the wounded, eat and rest. The present ceremony dates to the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army developed this unique display by the massed bands.