It is going to be colourful. It is going to be musical. The Beating Retreat 2016 will be at its best.
The 67th Republic Day celebrations this month promises to be a grand affair. The Republic Day parade is a wonderful experience and a very proud tradition of our nation.
Unlike previous year the much awaited Beating Retreat, that signals the end of the Republic Day festivities, will undergo a slight change.
‘Beating the Retreat Ceremony' in Delhi is observed keeping in mind the age old tradition, according to which, soldiers called a close down to the war at sunset.
The ceremony officially marks the finale of the Republic day celebrations.
This ceremony is conducted after 3 days of the beginning of the Republic day celebrations, on 26th January.
The tickets for the Beating Retreat Ceremony (Full Dress Rehearsal) on January 28, 2016 are in the category of Rs. 50 and Rs. 20 and do not have reserved seats.
This year the end of the Republic Day celebrations will see new blend of music instead of the long tradition of only military music.
This year the sitar, santoor and tabla, will be heard for the first time along with military bands.
These newly introduced percussion instruments will bring a change from the usual bugles, pipes and drums usually featured in the show by the colonial military band.
More people will be able to participate as all tableaux and music bands will be showcased for three days till January 29 at the Red Fort.
As for the first time in 66 years, the iconic BSF Camel contingent will not be the part of Republic Day Parade.
So this inheritor of the heritage of the Bikaner Royal Camel Force will also not be a part of the Beating the Retreat Ceremony where they stand along the ramparts of the North and South blocks on Raisina Hill.
Along with this Raisina Hill will witness approximately 50 musicians playing classical Indian instruments at its south and north block ramparts.
Last year's crowd favourites were 'Vir Bharat', 'Chhana Bilauri', 'Jai Janam Bhumi' and 'Athulya Bharat'.
But this is it would be amazing to see how the latest upgrade in the military band adds to the performance.
The Republic Day parade this year will be shorter by at least 15 minutes. The government has planned to hold a 90-minute parade instead of the nearly two hours.
It has cut down the number of marching military contingents and mixed together the mechanised ones.
An event of national pride, the Beating Retreat this time will also feature retired military soldiers, central armed police forces and state police bands.
For the better view of the programme for the crowd LED screens, spider-cams and surround sound systems will be installed.
And at exactly 6 pm, the buglers sound the retreat and the National Flag is lowered to the National Anthem bringing the Republic Day celebrations to a formal end.
The ceremony just like every year will create nostalgia for the times gone by.
