The ceremony opens with a parade by selected contingents of the armed forces set to scintillating performances by the various armed forces bands. The parade climaxes with all the bands playing in unison.
As the bands fall silent, a lone trumpeter picks up the moving tune ‘Siki a mole'. After this performance the hymn ‘Abide with me' is played by the Massed Bands. This hymn, said to be Mahatma Gandhi's favourite, is a permanent feature of the ceremony.
