Republic Day 2023: Beating Retreat Ceremony
The Beating Retreat ceremony is a traditional ritual that takes place on January 29th every year as part of the Republic Day celebrations in India. The ceremony, which takes place at Vijay Chowk, marks the end of the Republic Day celebrations and is presided over by the Indian President, who serves as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
The ceremony includes the lowering of flags and the silhouetting of important buildings such as the Rashtrapati Bhavan, North Block, South Block, and Parliament House with lights. Historically, the ceremony dates back to the time when soldiers retreated from battle after dusk and drums were used to signal the end of the day. The ceremony is believed to have been introduced to India in the 1950s when Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip visited the country following India’s independence. This year’s Beating Retreat ceremony will feature a drone show with 3,500 drones lighting up the night sky over Raisina Hill and 3D anamorphic projections on the North and South Blocks.
