Spectacular ‘Beating Retreat’ show regales audience

Reported by Santosh Jagdev

Bhubaneswar, Jan 30:

The State police on Thursday observed the ‘Beating Retreat’ Ceremony to mark the end of this year’s Republic Day at the Odisha Special Armed Police (OSAP) 7th Battalion parade ground here.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, in the company of Vipin Kumar Saxena, Principal Secretary of Home Department and Director General of Police Prakash Mishra witnessed the scintillating show as OSAP teams hailing from different battalions of the state presented colourful brass bands and pipe and drums show on the occasion.

Dressed in ceremonial outfits, the contingents presented fanfare, National Anthem, Ching Chang, Kadam Kadam, Sare Jahan Se Acha and Beating the Retreat brass band display and pipe band show with soul-stirring martial tunes and foot-tapping drumbeats that reverberated around the parade ground. The contingents received great applause from the audience.

At around 5.46 pm, the Tri-colour was brought down with full respect by police personnel.

Thereafter the jawans of Traffic Training Institute, Bhubaneswar performed a dance show on patriotic songs. Besides, tribal dance, Sambalpuri and Odissi dance were also staged at the ground. 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.