Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 29: The Beating Retreat ceremony, held at the Maulana Azad Stadium this evening, marked the finale of this year’s Republic Day celebrations. It was witnessed by Governor N. N. Vohra, Usha Vohra, First Lady, Kavinder Gupta, Speaker Legislative Assembly, Legislators, Chief Secretary, many senior Civil, Police and Security Forces Officers and other dignitaries, and the citizenry of Jammu.
Scintillating pipe drum and brass bands of the Army, BSF and J&K Police, on the Slow and Quick march, played enchanting tunes and received thumping applause from the audience.
The tunes presented by the Brass Bands included Mahroon Silver and Gold, SCIPIO, Sitare Hind, Vijay Bharat, Channa Billori, Kadam Kadam Badaye Jaa and Sare Jahan Se Achha; and in the Pipe Band show, the smartly turned out contingents presented Kadam Kadam Badaye Jaa, Deshon Ka Sartaj Bharat, Naurange, The Hundred Piper, Loudon’s Bonnie Woods and Braes, The Piper of Drummond and Lahure Ko Ralimai. Abide With Me- Hymn was also presented.
The spectacular fireworks added colour to the closure of the Beating Retreat ceremony. The function concluded with Sare Jahan Se Achha Hindustan Hamara and National Anthem.