Every year, nearly 800 bandsmen come together to celebrate the beating retreat, marking the end of the four day Republic Day celebrations. Beating retreat is one of the oldest Army traditions being followed till date. It has been mentioned in the oldest scriptures such as Mahabharata when troops disengaged from battles at sunset to mark the end of the day. Therefore, the bugler’s sound and the custom of standing still has been retained to this day.

Republic day is celebrated on 26th January every year to honour the constitution of Independent India. India got her independence on 15th August 1947, but became a republic three years later on this day. Replacing the Govt. of India Act, the longest act of british parliament, our constitution came into force on Republic day..

The above quotation from B.R Ambedkar, the father of the constitution, beautifully projects the real emotion that took birth in the hearts of people on the 26th of January 1950, when the constitution of India came into effect. The historic day is celebrated every year as ‘Republic day’ which marks the beginning of a new era that changed India forever.