Republic Day Celebrations Conclude with 'Beating the Retreat'

Why in News?

=> 'Beating the Retreat' program was organized at Motilal Nehru Stadium in Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh. With this, this year's Republic Day celebrations came to an end.

Key Points:

=> The 'Beating the Retreat' program began with paying respects to Governor Mangubhai Patel. After this, Brass Band, Mass Band, Pipe Band and Army Band of Madhya Pradesh Police gave a beautiful performance of collective playing.

=> Delightful melodies of Patriotic, Film, Indian Classical Music, Indian Raga and Western Classical Music were brought out by the Police Brass Band. In this episode, melodious musical performances of songs from Hindi films were given.

=> This was followed by band wise group performances followed by march past by all the bands.

=> It is noteworthy that Madhya Pradesh is the only state in the country to organize a 'Beating the Retreat' program, where every year on 29 January, the police organizes a program in the capital Bhopal.

=> At the national level, at Vijay Chowk in Raisina Hills in New Delhi, an attractive group performance of recitals and marchpasts is performed by band teams of the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy before the President.

=> It is to be noted that 'Beating the Retreat' is a long-standing tradition of paramilitary forces, when troops returned to their camps after the war, a program of entertaining band playing was organized to reduce the tension of the war.

=> With this program in India, the formal end of the Republic Day programs takes place.