Keeping up the momentum of celebrating 50 years of India-backed Bangladesh liberation war, a  122-strong combined contingent of Bangladesh armed forces participated in this year’s Republic Day parade. Marking the end today at the Vijay Chowk of the four-day long RD celebrations today, the  Beating Retreat ceremony will feature a special new composition Swarnim Vijay for the first time. Commemorating India’s historic victory, the composition will be led by Lt. Col. Vimal Joshi and Havildar Jiwan Rasaily. This also reiterates the historical and strong bond between India and Bangladesh.

The ceremony will also include some more new compositions like Tiranga Senani and Nida Yodha by Air Force band, Bharat Vandana by Navy band and Garud Prahar and Sambodhan Eco by the Army Military Band. Also Bharat Ke Jawan will be played by the mass formation of bands.

The ceremony will start with Fanfare, a composition, which wiill be played by the buglers and will conclude with ever popular Sare Jahan Se Accha'', the patriotic tarana penned by Muhammad Iqbal.

A total of 60 buglers, 17 trumpet players and 60 drummers of the Army, Navy and Indian Air Force bands along with the mass formation of bands of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and the Delhi Police at the Beating Retreat, will feature in this year’s event. Other bands that will participate include 20 each of the Punjab Regiment and the Rajputana Rifles; and a total of 25 bands of the Rajput Regiment, 19 bands of Bihar Regiment and at least seven bands of the Gorkha Regiment.

The centuries-old military tradition, the Beating Retreat, dates back to the days when troops used to disengage from fighting at sunset. On the sound of the Retreat, the fighting would cease.

The ceremony will be graced by the President, Ram Nath Kovid, the Prime Minister and several other dignitaries including foreigners. Marking the end of the occasion, the Rashtrapati Bhavan, North Block, South Block and the Parliament House are lit up simultaneously.