Spectacular Beating Retreat, with many firsts, mesmerises crowds with its majestic pageantry

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Breaking from the past, the beating retreat ceremony which unfolded in all its splendour at Raisina Hill had many firsts.</p>
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A thousand drones made their maiden and dazzling appearance, lighting up the sky above Raisina hill, in a unique demonstration of pageantry.</p>
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After witnessing the splendid Republic Day celebrations, it’s time to get ready for another exclusive event-Beating the Retreat! For the first time a drone show involving around 1000 drones will be featured.<br />
Watch live at 5PM today: <a href="https://t.co/tITcugb3oD">https://t.co/tITcugb3oD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeatingRetreat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeatingRetreat</a> <a href="https://t.co/OC4nj83RkE">pic.twitter.com/OC4nj83RkE</a></p>
— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) <a href="https://twitter.com/mygovindia/status/1487337215445241856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
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With that India became the fourth country in the world after UK, Russia and China to have achieved this feat, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said.</p>
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Today’s Beating Retreat also showcased for the first time a distinct Indian flavour, in tune with the rise of India as a civilizational state that is rooted in its ancient past, shaking off the remnants of western colonial culture.</p>
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'Sare Jahan Se Achcha' replaced the British-era  tune Abide With Me.</p>
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<img alt="" src="https://www.indianarrative.com/upload/news/Beating_The_Retreat2.webp" style="width: 720px; height: 480px;" /></p>
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A host of new tunes were added to the ceremony to commemorate 75 years of the country's independence (being celebrated as Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav).</p>
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A tune based on Ae Mere Watan Ke Logo, sung by the nightingale of India, Lata Mangeshkar echoed at the venue.</p>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Military bands play 'Aey Mere Watan ke Logo' as part of the Beating the Retreat ceremony being held at Vijay Chowk, Delhi <a href="https://t.co/MvA32kzbSK">pic.twitter.com/MvA32kzbSK</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1487407279158661121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Other tunes with a unique Indian flavour included 'Kerala', and 'Hind ki Sena'.</p>
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<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/opinion-news/why-beating-retreat-this-time-will-be-different-from-the-past-146267.html">Why ‘Beating Retreat’ this time will be different from the past</a></strong></p>