As a cold zephyr blew across the historic Vijay Chowk, multiple colours dotted the sky with around 1,000 drones taking flight, a projection mapping show with myriad hues depicted the country’s 75 years of independence and foot-tapping tunes filled the air, marking another colourful Beating the Retreat ceremony on Saturday.
From the drones show to projection mapping show, this year’s ceremony also presented quite a few firsts.For the first time in more than 70 years, popular and favourite hymn of Mahatma Gandhi ‘Abide With Me’ did not echo at the Vijay Chowk.The hymn was replaced by the popular patriotic song ‘Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon’, which was written by Kavi Pradeep to commemorate the supreme sacrifice made by Indian soldiers during the 1962 Indo-China war.This year’s ceremony was conceptualised, designed, produced and choreographed under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.Meanwhile, the sky dazzled with drones, fabricated through indigenous technology, as the show lasted for around 10 minutes along with synchronised background music.A projection mapping show to commemorate 75 years of independence on the walls of North Block and South Block, added colours to the ambience.Foot-tapping music by the bands of Indian Army, Navy, Air Force and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) filled the air. They also stood in various formations.The entry band played the ‘Veer Sainik’ tune, followed by Pipes & Drums Band, CAPF Band, Air Force Band, Naval Band, Army Military Band and Massed Bands.Commander Vijay Charles D’Cruz was the principal conductor of the ceremony.
The drone show was organised by the startup ‘Botlab Dynamics’ and supported by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and the Department of Science & Technology.A centuries-old military tradition, Beating the Retreat dates back to the days when troops disengaged from a battle at sunset. As soon as the buglers sounded the retreat, the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield.The custom of standing still during the sounding of retreat has been retained to this day. Colours and standards are cased and flags lowered at retreats.And drumbeats recall the days when troops, billeted in towns and cities, were recalled to their quarters at an appointed time in the evening.
