Beating Retreat

The Beating Retreat ceremony 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 Rashtrapati Bhavan (President Palace) towards the end of Rajpath.The Chief Guest of the function is the President of India who arrives escorted by the (PBG), a cavalry unit.When the President arrives, 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 Army developed the ceremony of display by the massed bands in which Military Bands, Pipe and Drum Bands, Buglers and Trumpeters from various Army Regiments besides bands from the Navy and Air Force take part which play popular tunes like Abide With Me, Mahatma Gandhi favourite hymn, and Saare Jahan Se Achcha at the end.