Marking the culmination of the four-day-long Republic Day celebrations, the beating the retreat ceremony will be held on Friday evening at the Vijay Chowk in New Delhi.
This year, 15 military bands, 18 pipes and drums bands from regimental centres and battalions are participating in the ceremony.
Besides one each of Indian Navy and Indian Air Force band will also form part of the event and for the first time, bands from the State Police and Central Armed Police Force will also perform at the ceremony.
Here are some glimpses from the practice sessions.
Image: Drummers of the Navy band perform during the full dress rehearsal for the Beating Retreat ceremony, in New Delhi. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI
Image: Members of the Indian military band rehearse for the "Beating the Retreat" ceremony. The ceremony symbolises retreat after a day on the battlefield, and marks the official end of the Indian Republic Day celebrations. Photograph: Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters
Image: The President's bodyguards, mounted on their horses, take part during the full dress rehearsal for the "Beating the Retreat" ceremony. Photograph: Altaf Hussain/Reuters
Image: BSF soldiers mounted on camels participate in the rehearsal. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI
Image: Soldiers folding up the Tri-colour during the full dress rehearsal for the Beating Retreat ceremony. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI
Image: Illumninated Rashtrapati bhawan shines at Vijay chowk in New Delhi. Photograph: @RashtrapatiBhavn/Twitter
