Beating Retreat: Vijay Chowk comes alive with music, lights

NEW DELHI: As the sun went down and the Raisina Hills lit up, a host of martial tunes reverberated the atmosphere as part of Beating the Retreat ceremony in New Delhi on Friday.

The ceremony which marks the conclusion of Republic Day celebrations, saw the bands from the three Armed services in their colourful ensembles playing tunes like 'Sam Bahadur', 'Surya' and 'Sare Jahan se Achcha'.

President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi attended the ceremony that saw 35 bands from the Army, Navy and Air Force playing solemn military tunes.

President Patil, the chief guest of the function, arrived from Rashtrapati Bhawan at Vijay Chowk, where her arrival was sounded by trumpeters, 38 buglers and 38 echo buglers followed by playing of National Anthem.

The band members, in their reds, greens and navy blues played the tunes for an hour before the national flag was lowered and the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Parliament House, the North and South Blocks along with other official buildings in Raisina Hills lit up.

The first tune to be played was 'Sam Bahadur' composed by LB Gurung, named after 1971 war hero Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. Army's 15 Massed Pipes and Drums Bands also played 'Surya', a quick march tune; 'Sky Boat Song', a slow march tune; 'Pipers Cave', another quick march tune; 'The Marques of Huntley', a strathspey tune; 'Jock Wilsons', a reel tune and 'Highland Laddie', a quick march tune.