The history of the Beating Retreat ceremony

The Beating Retreat is conducted every year on January 29 at Vijay Chowk to mark the formal conclusion of the Republic Day celebrations.

This year’s on January 26 and the Beating Retreat ceremony on January 29 have generated a lot of attention and discussion for a variety of reasons. In India, the latter ceremony traces its origins to the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army developed a unique ceremony of display by the massed bands, according to the Defence Ministry.

Beating Retreat is a centuries-old military tradition going back to the days when troops disengaged from battle at sunset. According to the website of the Royal Irish Virtual Military Gallery, orders from James II’s army, dated June 18, 1690, directed drums to beat a retreat at night and, in 1694, William III’s army also ordered this:“The Drum Major and Drummers of the Regiment which gives a Captain of the Main Guard are to beat the Retreat through the large street, or as may be ordered. They are to be answered by all the Drummers of the guards, and by four Drummers of each Regiment in their respective Quarters.”