Delhi geared up for Beating Retreat
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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