Glimpses of Beating Retreat Ceremony at Vijay Chowk, New Delhi on January 29, 2025.
  • All Indian tunes (30) to be played by the bands of the three Services & CAPF

New Delhi. 29 January 2025. In the majestic backdrop of a setting sun over the Raisina Hills, the iconic Vijay Chowk  immersed in the melodies of Indian tunes during the Beating Retreat ceremony, marking the culmination of 76th Republic Day celebrations. The bands of the Indian Army (IA), the Indian Navy (IN), the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)  played 30 foot-tapping Indian tunes before a distinguished audience, comprising President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister  Rajnath Singh, other Union Ministers, senior officials and the public.

Glimpses of Beating Retreat Ceremony at Vijay Chowk, New Delhi on January 29, 2025.

The ceremony began with the massed band’s ‘Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja’ tune, followed by captivating tunes such as ‘Amar Bharati’, ‘Indradhanush’, ‘Jai Janam Bhumi’, ‘Nati in Himalayan Valley’, ‘Ganga Jamuna’ and ‘Veer Siachen’ by the Pipes & Drums band. The CAPF bands will play ‘Vijay Bharat’, ‘Rajasthan Troops’, ‘Aye Watan Tere Liye and ‘Bharat ke Jawan’.

‘Galaxy Rider’, ‘Stride’, ‘Rubaru’ and ‘Millennium Flight Fantasy’ will be the tunes played by the band of IAF, while the IN band will play ‘Rashtriya Pratham’, ‘Nishak Nishpad’, ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, ‘Spread the Light of Freedom’, ‘Rhythm of the Reef’ and ‘Jai Bharati’. It will be followed by IA band which will play ‘Veer Sapoot’, ‘Taqat Watan’, ‘Mera Yuva Bharat’, ‘Dhruv’ and ‘Faulad Ka Jigar’.

Glimpses of Beating Retreat Ceremony at Vijay Chowk, in New Delhi on January 29, 2025.

The Massed Bands then play the tunes ‘Priyam Bharatam’, ‘Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon’ and ‘Drummers Call’. The event will come to a close with the ever-popular tune of ‘Sare Jahan se Acha’ to be played by the Buglers.

The principal conductor of the ceremony  was Commander Manoj Sebastian. The IA Band conductor was Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Bishan Bahadur, while M Antony, MCPO MUS II and Warrant Officer Ashok Kumar were the conductors of IN and IAF respectively. The conductor of CAPF band will be Head Constable GD Mahajan Kailash Madhava Rao.

The Pipes & Drums band played under the instructions of Subedar Major Abhilash Singh, while the Buglers will perform under the leadership of Naib Subedar Bhupal Singh.