BSF camels during the rehearsal for Beating Retreat at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi on Saturday,16 January 2010. After three days of Republic Day parade, a moving ceremony known as "Beating Retreat" is held at the Vijay Chowk in New Delhi. This ceremony held on the 29th of January every year, marks the formal end of the Republic Day celebrations. The ceremony opens with a parade by select 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 theceremony.

Photographer: A Sarthak

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