67 years later: Delhi Police band to be part of Beating Retreat

The 37-member team has been practicing for the march, in the BSF camp at Chawla. Express Photo

For the first time in 67 years, the Delhi Police band will be seen marching and playing martial tunes alongside contingents such as the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Indo Tibetan Border Force during the Beating Retreat ceremony at Rajpath Friday.

The 37-member team has been practising for the five-minute march in the BSF camp at Chawla. “The team will be led by an inspector. They will march in two separate lines, starting from Rashtrapati Bhavan to Vijay Chowk, while playing three types of marching tunes — Swadhin, Abhinandan and Karrippar,” said Jagjeet Prasad, the team in-charge.

The police band has a strength of 84 personnel which participates in ceremonial functions such as Raising Day, Republic Day and Independence Day at the Red Fort. The members also play during functions and events involving officers and their families.