President Murmu presides over Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk

The 77th Republic Daycelebrations drew to a formal close on Thursday with the traditional Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk presided over by President Droupadi MurmuIn a post on X the President said the ceremony provided a befitting conclusion to the Republic Day festivities She noted that the performances by bands of the Armed Forces and the Central Armed Police Forces reflected the spirit of national unity and the enduring valour of Indiarsquos armed forcesldquoThe melodious tunes epitomised the nationrsquos rich cultural heritage and military traditionsrdquo the post saidThe 77th Republic Day celebrations concluded with the Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk presided over by President Droupadi Murmu The ceremony offered a befitting conclusion to the national festivities Bands from the Armed Forces and the Central Armed Police Forceshellip pictwittercomGmMUY8K2M8mdash President of India rashtrapatibhvn January 29 2026The iconic Vijay Chowk reverberated with Indian tunes during the ceremony which marked the culmination of the 77th Republic Day celebrations on January 29LIVE Beating Retreat Ceremony 2026 httpstco1dLk72ajHAmdash President of India rashtrapatibhvn January 29 2026According to a release issued by the Ministry of Defence bands from the Indian Army Indian Navy Indian Air Force and Central Armed Police Forces presented a series of foottapping performances before a distinguished gathering that included President Murmu VicePresident CP Radhakrishnan Prime Minister Narendra Modi Defence Minister Rajnath Singh other Union Ministers senior officials and members of the publicThe ceremony commenced with the Massed Bands performing lsquoKadam Kadam Badhaye Jarsquo followed by melodious renditions by the Pipes and Drums band including lsquoAtulya Bharatrsquo lsquoVeer Sainikrsquo lsquoMili Jhulirsquo lsquoNritya Saritarsquo lsquoMaroonirsquo and lsquoJhelumrsquo The Central Armed Police Forces bands played tunes such as lsquoVijay Bharatrsquo lsquoHathrohirsquo lsquoJai Horsquo and lsquoVeer SipahirsquoBeating Retreat 2026 Vijay Chowk seating named after Indian musical instrumentsThe Indian Air Force band presented compositions including lsquoBrave Warriorrsquo lsquoTwilightrsquo lsquoAlertrsquo and lsquoFlying Starrsquo while the Indian Navy band performed lsquoNamastersquo lsquoSagar Pawanrsquo lsquoMatribhumirsquo lsquoTejasvirsquo and lsquoJai Bharatirsquo This was followed by the Indian Army bandrsquos renditions of lsquoVijayee Bharatrsquo lsquoAarambh Hai Prachand Hairsquo lsquoAye Watan Aye Watanrsquo lsquoAnand Mathrsquo lsquoSugamya Bharatrsquo and lsquoSitare HindrsquoThe Massed Bands later played lsquoBharat Ke Shaanrsquo lsquoVande Mataramrsquo and lsquoDrummers Callrsquo The ceremony concluded with the buglers performing the patriotic tune lsquoSare Jahan Se Acharsquo the release saidThe principal conductor of the ceremony was Squadron Leader Leimapokpam Rupachandra Singh The Indian Army band was conducted by Subedar Major Prakash Joshi while M Antony MCPO MUS II and Warrant Officer Ashok Kumar conducted the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force bands respectively The Central Armed Police Forces band was conducted by Inspector Chetram The Pipes and Drums band performed under Subedar SP Chourasia while the buglers were led by Subedar Manoj KumarThis year the seating enclosures at Vijay Chowk were named after Indian musical instruments including Bansuri Damaru Ektara Esraj Mridangam Nagada Pakhawaj Santoor Sarangi Sarinda Sarod Shehnai Sitar Surbahar Tabla and VeenaWith ANI inputs