Republic Day celebrations came to a close with the Beating the Retreat ceremony at the historic Vijay Chowk in New Delhi. <br/><br/>President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Chiefs of three services witnessed the ceremony. <br/><br/>The band from Army, Navy, Air Force and the State Police and Central Armed Police Force presented 26 performances before the spectators with captivating and foot-tapping music. <br/><br/>The presentations included Indian Soldiers, Jhelum, Herana Herana, Nritya Sarita, Kundan Singa, Mayur Nritya, Natraj, Battle of the Sky, The Great Marshal, The Brave Warriors, INS Nilgiri, Namaste India, Jai Bharti, Amrit Wani, Veer Gorkha and Shere-E-Jawan. <br/><br/>Power of Sound and Kingdom of Heaven are the two new compositions. The only western tune was Abide with Me. The event came to a close with the ever-popular tune of Saare Jahan se Achha.<br/><br/>18 Military Bands, 15 Pipes and Drums Bands from Regimental Centres and Battalions participated in the ceremony. One each of Indian Navy and Indian Air Force band were also part of the event. <br/><br/>A band of the State Police and Central Armed Police Forces comprising Central Industrial Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force and Delhi Police also took part in the event.<br/>

Republic Day celebrations came to a close with the Beating the Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk in Delhi.<br/>President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief of three services and other dignitaries witnessed the musical ceremony.<br/><br/>AIR Corresponednt reports, the Beating the Retreat has emerged as an event of national pride when the Colours and Standards are paraded.<br/><br/>As many as 26 performances, mostly composed by Indian musicians thrilled the audience with patriotic fervour.<br/>In today's event 16 Military Bands, 16 Pipe and Drum Bands from Regimental Centres and Battalions participated in the ceremony.<br/><br/>Indian Navy and Indian Air Force band were also part of the event.<br/>Another band of the State Police and Central Armed Police Forces comprising Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force and Delhi Police also took part.<br/><br/>The Beating the Retreat traces its origins to the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army indigenously developed the unique ceremony of display by the massed bands.<br/><br/>It marks a centuries old military tradition, when the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield returning to the camps at sunset at the sounding of the Retreat.