Beating Retreat Ceremony held in the national capital of India. The Republic Day celebrations in Delhi initiate with a multi-hued parade on the 26th of January along the Rajpath. The Beating Retreat Ceremony marks the culmination of a four-day-long celebration held on the 29th of January every year. This centuries-old military tradition takes place at Vijay Chowk, or the victory square, with the backdrop of the stately Rashtrapati Bhawan.
History of Beating Retreat Ceremony
This tradition began in the 17th century when King James II ordered his troops to beat the drums, lower the flag, and organize a parade to proclaim the end of the day of the war. As soon as the soldiers heard the sound of ’retreat’, they ceased fighting, sheathed their arms, and withdrew from the battlefield. And due to this reason, the custom of standing still during the ‘retreat’ has been retained today.
‘Beating the Retreat’ is an event of national pride and is graced by the President. The flags are lowered at dusk against the backdrop of the setting sun. The Rashtrapati Bhavan, North Block, South Block, and the Parliament House are illuminated to mark this solemn occasion.
Description of Beating Retreat Ceremony
‘Beating the Retreat Ceremony’ in Delhi is observed keeping in mind the age-old tradition, according to which soldiers called a close down to the war at sunset. This call was the sound of the bugles vibrating across the battlefield calling a halt to the fighting.
This ceremony officially marks the finale of the Republic day celebrations. It starts with definite units of the armed forces performing lively executions. During the ceremony, after the live performances, a hymn is played by the bands collectively called ‘Abide with me’.
On the day of the Beating the Retreat Ceremony in Delhi, at 6 p.m., the bugles call the retreat sound, the National flag is lowered, and the National anthem is sung in musical harmony. Finally, the silhouetted riders move away from the background, which sets the conclusion of the Republic Day celebrations.
In 2022, a special composition of ‘Swarnim Vijay’ was played in the ceremony to commemorate 50 years of India’s victory in the 1971 war.
Beating the Retreat Ceremony 2024: Key Highlights
- A unique composition of ‘Swarnim Vijay’ will be played at the ceremony to honor India’s historic win over Pakistan in 1971.
- This composition will be led by Lieutenant colonel Vimal Joshi and Havildar Jiwan Rasaily during a quick march at Vijay Chowk, where the Beating Retreat ceremony.
- Other new compositions include Tiranga Senani and Nida Yodha by the Air Force band, Bharat Vandana by the Navy band, Garud Prahar and Sambodhan Eco by the Army Mil band, and Bharat Ke Jawan composition by Massed Band will also be played.
- The bands of the Army, Navy, and Indian Air Force (IAF) along with the mass formation of bands of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Delhi Police, will perform at the ceremony.
- Twenty bands each from the Rajputana Rifles and Punjab Regiment will also participate in the ceremony.
- 25 bands of Rajput Regiment, 19 bands of Bihar Regiment, and at least 7 bands of Gorkha Regiment will also be part of the festivities.
- Overall, 60 buglers, 17 trumpeters, and 60 drummers will participate in this year’s ceremony.
- Beating the Retreat 2022 ceremony will begin with ‘Fanfare’ composed by buglers and end with ‘Sare Jahan Se Accha’ composition.
New Delhi Tour Packages
Cities of New Delhi
List of Fair and Festivals in New Delhi
-
Delhi Tour Packages
-
Best Time to Visit Delhi
-
How to Reach Delhi
-
Fairs and Festivals in Delhi
-
Army Day
-
Basant Panchami
-
Buddha Jayanti
-
Central Excise Day
-
Christmas Festival in Delhi
-
Delhi Book Fair
-
Diwali Festival
-
Dussehra
-
Garden Tourism Festival
-
Guru Purab in Delhi
-
Independence Day
-
International Mango Festival in Delhi
-
International Trade Fair in Delhi
-
Kite Flying Festival in Delhi
-
Lohri Festival in Delhi
-
Maha Shivratri in Delhi
-
New Year Day
-
Phool Walon ki Sair in Delhi
-
Qutub Festival
-
Republic Day
-
Republic Day Parade 2024
-
The Delhi Flower Show
-
Urs at Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia’s Shrine
-
Valentine’s Day
-
Aahar- New Delhi
-
Air Force Museum
-
Akshardham Temple
-
Amusement Theme Parks in Delhi
-
Archaeological Museum
-
Lotus Temple Delhi
-
Arogya International Fair New Delhi
-
Ashoka Pillar
-
Begum Samru’s Palace
-
Buddha Jayanti Park
-
Cathedral Church of the Redemption in Delhi
-
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
-
Central Baptist Church
-
Chandni Chowk
-
Chandni Chowk Market, Delhi
-
Chhatarpur Mandir
-
Chiragh-i-Dihli’s Dargah
-
Churches in New Delhi
-
Crafts Museum
-
Cultural Centres
-
Dara Shikoh Library
-
Deer Park in New Delhi
-
Delhi Jewelry & Gem Fair
-
Delhi Metro
-
Delhi NCR
-
Delhi Zoo
-
Destinations near New Delhi
-
Digambar Jain Temple
-
Dilli Haat, Delhi
-
Discotheques in New Delhi
-
Entertainment in Delhi
-
ET Asia ITEX- New Delhi
-
Events in New Delhi
-
Excursions from New Delhi
-
Fatehpuri Masjid
-
Gandhi Museum
-
Gandhi Smriti Museum in New Delhi
-
Garden of Five Senses
-
Ghalib Museum & Library, New Delhi
-
Ghaziuddin Khan’s Madarsa and Tomb
-
Golfing in New Delhi
-
Gurdwaras in New Delhi
-
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in New Delhi
-
Hauz Khas in Delhi
-
History of Delhi
-
Humayun’s Tomb
-
India Gate
-
India International Trade Fair New Delhi
-
Indian War Memorial Museum
-
Indira Gandhi Memorial
-
Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts
-
International Trade Fair for Construction Machinery, Building Material Machines, Mining Machines and Construction Vehicles, New Delhi
-
ISKCON Temple
-
Jama Masjid
-
Janpath Market in Delhi
-
Jantar Mantar
-
Japanese Garden
-
Job & Education Fair New Delhi
-
Karol Bagh Market, Delhi
-
Kosmetika New Delhi
-
Lajpat Nagar Market, Delhi
-
Lakshmi Narayan Temple
-
Lal Kot
-
Lodi Gardens
-
Malliah Memorial Theater Craft Museum, New Delhi
-
Markets for Shopping in New Delhi
-
Markets in Delhi
-
Meena Bazaar
-
Memorials in Delhi
-
Metro Walk Rohini
-
Mirza Ghalib Haveli
-
Mirza Ghalib’s Tomb in New Delhi
-
Monuments in Delhi
-
Mosques in New Delhi
-
Moth-ki-Masjid in Delhi
-
Mughal Garden
-
Multiplexes in New Delhi
-
Museums in Delhi
-
Nakshatra New Delhi
-
National Children’s Museum
-
National Children’s Museum
-
National Museum
-
National Museum of Natural History, New Delhi
-
National Philatelic Museum, New Delhi
-
National Police Museum, New Delhi
-
National Rail Museum, New Delhi
-
National Rose Garden
-
National Science Center in New Delhi
-
National Science Center Museum, New Delhi
-
Nehru Museum and Planetarium
-
New Delhi Tourism
-
Night Life in New Delhi
-
Nightlife in New Delhi
-
Nizamuddin’s Tomb in New Delhi
-
North and South Block
-
Old Secretariat in New Delhi
-
Palika Bazar, Connaught Place Delhi
-
Parks and Gardens in Delhi
-
Parliament House
-
Places to Visit in Delhi
-
Pubs in New Delhi
-
Purana Qila – Old Fort
-
Qutub Minar
-
Railway Museum
-
Rajghat in Delhi
-
Rashtrapati Bhavan
-
Razia Sultan’s Tomb in Delhi
-
Red Fort
-
Restaurants in Delhi
-
Restaurants in New Delhi
-
Safdarjung’s Tomb in New Delhi
-
Salimgarh Fort
-
Sangeet Natak Academy
-
Sangeet Natak Akademi
-
Sarojini Nagar Market Delhi
-
Shah Alam’s Tomb
-
Shankar’s International Dolls Museum, New Delhi
-
Shopping in New Delhi
-
Siri Fort
-
South Extension Market, Delhi
-
Sports Goods & Fitness Equipments New Delhi
-
St. James Church
-
St. Stephens’ Church in New Delhi
-
Stationary Fair New Delhi
-
Sultan Ghari’s Tomb
-
Talkatora Garden
-
TechIndia (Technology Trade Pavilion) New Delhi
-
Telegraph Memorial
-
Temples in New Delhi
-
Terracotta & Metal Museum
-
Tex-Styles India New Delhi
-
Tour to Agra from Delhi
-
Tour to Alwar from Delhi
-
Tour to Badhkal Lake from Delhi
-
Tour to Bharatpur from Delhi
-
Tour to Brindavan from Delhi
-
Tour to Bulandshahar from Delhi
-
Tour to Gurgaon from Delhi
-
Tour to Jaipur from Delhi
-
Tour to Kesroli from Delhi
-
Tour to Kuchesar from Delhi
-
Tour to Mathura from Delhi
-
Tour to Neemrana from Delhi
-
Tour to Noida from Delhi
-
Tour to Sariska from Delhi
-
Tour to Sultanpur from Delhi
-
Tour to Surajkund from Delhi
-
Tour to Tilyar Lake from Delhi
-
Trade Shows in August
-
Trade Shows in January
-
Trade Shows in March
-
Trade Shows in May
-
Trade Shows in New Delhi
-
Trade Shows in September
-
Transport in New Delhi
-
Urdu Park
-
Weather in New Delhi
-
William Fraser Bungalow
-
Zakir Hussain Museum, New Delhi