Beating the Retreat ceremony, marking the culmination of four-day long Republic Day celebrations was held at the historic Vijay Chowk in New Delhi this evening. This year also, Indian tunes were the flavour of 'Beating the Retreat' ceremony. President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff and Chiefs of the three services were present at the ceremony among others.<br />'' <br />''AIR correspondent reports, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline;">b</span>ands from Army, Navy, Air Force and Central Armed Police Force presented 26 performances at the historic Vijay Chowk and enthralled the spectators with captivating and foot-tapping music. This year, 15 Military Bands and 15 Pipes and Drums Bands from Regimental Centres and Battalions participated in Beating the Retreat ceremony. Besides, one each of Indian Navy and Indian Air Force band also formed part of the event. Another band of CAPF also took part. The entry band was Massed Band with Swarnim Vijay theme. It was the special new composition to commemorate 50 years of victory of India in the 1971 war against Pakistan. It was followed by Pipes and Drums Band, CAPF Bands, Air Force Band, Naval Band, Army Mil Band and Massed Bands. Tunes like Kadam Kadam Badhae Ja, Bharat Ke Jawan, Sathi Bhai, Sitare Hind, Nidar Yoddha, Evening Star, Tiranga Senani, Queeen of Hill, Sky War, Manohar, Bharat Vandana, Garud Prahar, Abide With Me and Drummers Call were part of the ceremony. The Principal Conductor of Beating the Retreat ceremony was Lieutenant Colonel Girish Kumar U of AEC Training College and Centre. The event came to a close with the ever-popular tune of Sare Jahan Se Acha. ANUPAM MISHRA, AIR News, Delhi.<br />''<span style="color: #222222;"><br />''Beating 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 are recall of 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, the ceremony of Beating Retreat creates a mood of nostalgia of the times gone by.</span>