Beating the Retreat 2019: Four-day Republic Day celebration to culminate in showpiece ceremony at Rajpath. LIVE Updates here

Beating the Retreat ceremony, organised at the Vijay Chowk on January 29 every year, marks the culmination of the four-day-long Republic Day celebrations. 'Beating Retreat' marks a centuries-old military tradition, when the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield and returned to the camps at sunset at the sounding of the Retreat.

The ceremony traces its origins to the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army developed the unique ceremony of display by the massed bands.

"As many as 27 performances on the historic Vijay Chowk will enthral the spectators with captivating and foot-tapping music of the bands from the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the state police and Central Armed Police Force (CAPF)," the Defence Ministry said in a release.

"Out of the 27 performances, 19 tunes have been composed by Indian musicians, which are 'Indian Star', 'Paharon ki Rani', 'Kumaoni Geet', 'Jai Janam Bhumi', 'Queen of Satpura', 'Marooni', 'Vijay', 'Soldier-My Valentine', 'Bhupal', 'Vijay Bharat', 'Aakash Ganga', 'Gangotri', 'Namaste India', 'Samudrika', 'Jai Bharat', 'Young India', 'Veerta Ki Misal', 'Amar Senani' and 'Bhumiputra'," it further added.

The eight western tunes planned to be played include 'Fanfare by Buglers', 'Sound Barrier', 'Emblazoned', 'Twilight', 'Alert (Post Horn Gallop)', 'Space Flight', 'Drummers Call' and 'Abide with me'.

The event will come to a close with the ever-popular tune of 'Sare Jahan se Acha', the Ministry said. This year, 15 Military Bands, 15 Pipes and drum bands from Regimental Centres and Battalions are participating in the ceremony.

One band each from the Navy and the Air Force will also be part of the event. Another band of the State Police and CAPF comprising the Central Industrial Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force and Delhi Police will also take part in the ceremony.

Entry and exit facilities at the Central Secretariat station and the Udyog Bhawan station will not be available from 2 pm to 6.30 pm, he said.

However, entry or exit at the Central Secretariat station will be allowed from gate no. 1 only from 2 pm to 4 pm, while the rest of its gates will remain closed during this period, he said.

(With agency inputs)