Thursday, January 28, 2016

Delhi geared up for Beating Retreat

Delhi geared up for Beating Retreat
New Delhi: Rastrapati Bhavan, Parliament House, India Gate and South Blocks in Delhi geared up for beating retreat on 29th January 2016, 3rd day after Republic Day celebration with colourful illuminations.

Beating Retreat is a military ceremony dating to 16th century England and was first used to recall nearby patrolling units to their castle. Originally it was known as watch setting and was initiated at sunset by the firing of a single round from the evening gun.
An order from the army of James II (England), otherwise James VII of Scotland dated to 18 June 1690 had his drums beating an order for his troops to retreat and a later order, fromWilliam III  in 1694 read "The Drum Major and Drummers of the Regiment which gives a Captain of the Main Guard are to beat the Retreat through the large street, or as may be ordered. They are to be answered by all the Drummers of the guards, and by four Drummers of each Regiment in their respective Quarters". However, either or both orders may refer to the ceremonial tattoo..

In India it officially denotes the end of Republic Day festivities. It is conducted on the evening of 29 January, the third day after the Republic Day. It is performed by the bands of the three wings of the military, the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. The venue is Raisina Hills and an adjacent square, Vijay Chowk, flanked by the north and south block of the Rastrapati Bhavan (President's Palace) towards the end of  Rajpath.

The Chief Guest of the function is the President of India who arrives escorted by the President’s Bodyguards (PBG), a cavalry unit. When the President begins to arrive, a Fanfareisis sounded by the trumpeters of the Brigade of the Guards. on their natural trumpets, and then the PBG commander asks the unit to give the National Salute, which is followed by the playing of the Indian National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana., by the Massed Bands, and at the same time by the unfurling of the Flag of India on the flagpole right at the Vijay Chowk.

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