Last week one of my friend asked me if I would be interested to witness the Beating Retreat ceremony on 29th Jan at President's House in Delhi. I was very happy to hear about another opportunity to click some photographs of one of the biggest ceremonies in India... She arranged the passes for the event and I went their with my camera although none of us were not sure if cameras are allowed or not. After reaching the place we asked one of the policeman if cameras are allowed or not... He said, everything like Mobile and cameras are allowed... At final security check we were refused to take cameras and one of us had to walk through 1 kilometer to keep the camera in car and come back... Here are few photographs we clicked after completion of the ceremony.. Check Out !!!
I have visited India gate many times but this was first time when I saw the tricolors of Indian flag on top of India Gate... These were lights of three colors...
Beating Retreat is official end of Republic Day festivities, which is conducted on the evening of 29th Jan; exactly after three days of Republic Day on 26th January... Ceremony is performed by the bands of the three wings of the military: the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force... Beating Retreat ceremony takes place in front of President's House in Delhi which is just in front of India Gate which you see on the photograph above... The venue is Raisina Hills and an adjacent square, Vijay Chowk, flanked by the north and south block of the Rashtrapati Bhavan (President's Palace) towards the end of Rajpath...
President of India is chief guest of Beating Retreat Ceremony... When we reached at the venue, first Dr. Manmohan Singh arrived in a black BMW surrounded by approximately 8 other cars of same type... Mr. Prime Minister met with wing chiefs of military and stud there for waiting the chief guest.. After few minutes Mr. Vice President reached at the venue and finally a grand arrival of President of India....
Here is a photograph of President's house in Delhi with amazing lighting !!!
On arrival of current President of India, the commander asks the unit to give the National Salute, which is followed by the playing of the Indian National Anthem, by the Massed Bands, and at the same time by the unfurling of the Flag of India on the flagpole.... Beating Retreat ceremony was started in the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army developed the ceremony of display by the massed bands in which Military Bands, Pipes and Drums Bands, Buglers and Trumpeters from various Army Regiments besides bands Navy and Air Force take part...
Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beating_Retreat to know more about Beating Retreat Ceremony !!!
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