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, Mrs. Usha Vohra, First Lady, Ms. Mehbooba Mufti, Chief Minister, Mr. Naeem Akhtar, Minister for Public Works, Mr. B.B. Vyas, Chief Secretary, Dr. S.P. Vaid, DGP, senior Civil, Police, Army and Central Armed Police 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 appreciative applause from the audience.The tunes played by the Brass Bands included Mahroon Silver and Gold, SCIPIO, Veer-Sepoy, Vijay Bharat, Kadam Kadam Badaye Jaa and Sare Jahan Se Achha; and in the Pipe Band show, the smartly turned out contingents presented India Gate, Deshon Ka Sartaj Bharat, Naurange, The Hundred Pipers, Loudon’s Bonnie Woods and Braes, The Pipers of Drummond and Lahure Ko Ralimai.
The Governor gave away prizes to various Brass Band Pipes and Drum contingents for their outstanding display on the occasion. He also presented awards to Lord Shiva Day Boarding School Ghou-Manhasan (Girls), Govt. SRML Higher Secondary School Jammu, (Boys) for the best march-past; Carmel Convent Kunjwani (Girls) and Sainik School Manasbal (Boys) for the best band contingent, Govt. Girls Higher Secondary School Canal Road, Jammu for the best cultural item and the “Save Water Safe Water, Judicious Use of Water and Rain Water Harvesting” by Executive Director, CCDU, Department of PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Jammu for best tableaux at the State level Republic Day celebrations held at M. A. Stadium on 26th January 2018.The spectacular fireworks added colour at the closure of the Beating Retreat ceremony. The function concluded with Sare Jahan Se Achha Hindustan Hamara and National Anthem.