The ceremony at the Vijay Chowk on January 29th every year marks the culmination of the four-day-long Republic Day celebrations. A total of 39 Bands from the three Services will perform at the ceremony. Out of these, 14 are Military Bands, while 17are of Pipes and Drums. Navy and Air Force will be represented by eight Bands.
Beating the Retreat’ has emerged as an event of national pride when the Colours and Standards are paraded. The ceremony traces its origins to the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army indigenously developed the unique ceremony of display by the massed bands. Beating Retreat marks a centuries old military tradition, when the troops ceased fighting and returned to the camps at sunset at the sounding of the Retreat
