The Beating Retreat ceremony at Maulana Azad Stadium, here this evening marked the grand finale of this year’s Republic Day celebrations witnessed by N. N. Vohra, Governor, Usha Vohra, First Lady, and several Ministers.
Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister for Rural Development, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, R. S. Chib, Minister for Medical Education, Abdul Gani Malik, Minister for Higher Education, Mubarak Gul, Advisor to the Chief Minister and Khem Lata Wakhloo, Chairperson, State Social Welfare Board, senior Civil, Police and Security Forces Officers and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
A scintillating and colorful brass band and pipes and drums show was presented by the Army, BSF and J&K Police on the occasion. The contingents received great applause from the audience.
The items presented in brass band display included Space Flight, Scipio, Sitare Hind, Get Away Lullaby and Belphegor and similarly, in pipes and drums show, the well dressed contingents presented India Gate, Hundred Pipers, Skye Boat Song, Valley Of The Green, Loudon’s Bonnie, Piper O Drummond and Deshon Ka Sartaj, Abide With Me and Drummers Call. The function concluded with a joint item of Sare Jahan Se Achha Hindustan Hamara.
The Governor gave away prizes to various brass band and pipes and drum contingents for their outstanding display on the occasion. He also gave away prizes to the Department of Youth Services and Sports for Bharatiyam, Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Mubarak Mandi, Jammu (Girls) and Government Hari Singh Higher Secondary School, Jammu (Boys), for best march-past, J&K Police Public School, Miransahib, for best band contingent, Government SRML Higher Secondary School, Jammu for best cultural item and the Directorate of School Education, Jammu for best tableaux presented at the State level Republic Day function held at M. A. Stadium.
The spectacular fireworks added colour to the ceremony.
Among others, the function was attended by the political and social activists, prominent citizens and a large number of people.
“Beating Retreat” is a centuries old military tradition dating from the days when troops disengaged from battle at sunset. As soon as the bugles sounded “Retreat”, the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield. Drumbeats are a relic of the day when troops, billeted in towns and cities, were recalled to their quarters at an appointed hour in the evening. The combination of these traditions has resulted into the ceremony of “Beating Retreat”. The ceremony now also serves as a grand finale to the Republic Day celebrations.
