New Delhi: Beating the Retreat ceremony, the conclusion of four-day-long Republic Day celebrations was held at Vijay Chowk here on Friday evening with a new rendition ‘Swarnim Vijay’ to mark the 50th anniversary of victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war.
In total, 15 military bands and an equal number of pipes and drums from regimental centres and battalions participated in the ceremony along with a band each of the Navy, Air Force and Central Armed Police Forces. As many as 26 musical performances enthralled the spectators near the historic Raisina Hills.
Apart from ‘Swarnim Vijay’, another two new tunes — ‘Tiranga Senani’ and ‘Nidar Yodha’–were performed by the Air Force Band.
The Naval Band played ‘Bharat Vandana’ and almost all the tunes by the Army Military Band were new.
The hour-long musical pomp commenced after the Chief Guest of the function President Ram Nath Kovind arrived in a cavalry unit escorted by the ‘President’s Bodyguards’ (PBG). The first tune ‘Fanfare By Buglers’ was played with the formal assent of the Supreme Commander of Defence Forces — Mr Kovind and ended with ‘Sare Jahan Se Accha’, followed by ‘Retreat By Buglers’.
Melodies such as Queen of Hill, Chandani, Bedupako, Sathi Bhai, India Gate were played by Pipes and Drums Band. Sitare Hind, Muskoh Valley and Giri Raj were played by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
And while the Air Force Band had tunes like ‘Nidar Yodha;, ‘Tiranga Senani’ and ‘Sky War’, the Naval Band performed ‘Bharat Vandana’ and ‘Jai Bharati’. The Army Military Band had prepared Garud Prahar, Army Star, Abhinandaniya Bharat, Sambodhan Eco and Bharat Ke Jawan.
