One thousand drones to perform light show for first time at 'Beating the Retreat' ceremony in National Capital

• Integrity Education, Delhi
• 29, Jan 2022

As part of Republic Day Celebrations, the Beating the Retreat ceremony will be held at the historic Vijay Chowk this evening. A novel drone show will be one of the major attractions of this year’s ‘Beating the Retreat’ ceremony. The ceremony will be graced by President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Ram Nath Kovind. Other dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister  Rajnath Singh, will witness the show, which has been conceptualized, designed, produced and choreographed under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

AIR correspondent reports that a novel drone with Indian fervour will be the flavour of the ceremony this year.

For the first time, drone show has been made a part of the ceremony to commemorate 75 years of Independence, being celebrated as ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.The drone show has been organized by a startup ‘Botlab Dynamics’ and supported by Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and Department of Science and Technology. The show would be of 10 minutes duration involving around one thousand drones fabricated through indigenous technology. Synchronized background music will also be played during the drone show.

A total of 26 performances will enthral the spectators with foot-tapping music played by the bands of Indian Army, Navy, Air Force and Central Armed Police Forces . The entry band will be Massed Band playing the ‘Veer Sainik’ tune.

This will be followed by Pipes and Drums Band, CAPF Band, Air Force Band, Naval Band, Army Military Band and Massed Bands.The principal conductor of the ceremony will be Commander Vijay Charles D’Cruz.

Besides, A number of new tunes have been added to the ceremony to celebrate ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’. These include ‘Kerala’, ‘Hind ki Sena’ and ‘Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon’. The event will come to a close with the ever-popular tune of ‘Sare Jahan se Acha’.

Beating the Retreat’ is a centuries-old military tradition dating from the days when troops disengaged from battle at sunset. As soon as the buglers sounded the retreat, the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield. It is for this reason that the custom of standing still during the sounding of retreat has been retained to this day. Colours and standards are cased and flags lowered at retreats.

Drumbeats recall the days when troops, billeted in towns and cities, were recalled to their quarters at an appointed time in the evening. Based on these military traditions, ‘Beating the Retreat’ ceremony creates a mood of nostalgia of the times gone by.

Sources : News on AIR