WATCH: Sky brightens up with 1,000 Made In India drones on Beating Retreat ceremony

New Delhi: During the Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk in the national capital, 1000 made-in-India drones made different formations in the sky on Saturday. The ceremony was attended by President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other dignitaries.

It is a big achievement for India as India has become the 4^th country in the world to do so after the United Kingdom, Russia and China, informed Union Minister Jitendra Singh.

#BeatingRetreat https://t.co/WzOapk8pFA

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) January 29, 2022

He also said an IIT alumnus startup ‘Botlab Dynamics’ worked for 6 months to make successful the air show on the occasion. In its great effort, the Union Ministry of Science & Technology and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi also helped.

Indian #StartUp “Botlab”,funded by Union Ministry of Science & Technology,to light up sky tomorrow evening by flying 1,000 Drones during “Beating Retreat” in presence of Rashtrapati & PM Sh @narendramodi.India 4th country after China,Russia &UK to do so.Held a demonstration today pic.twitter.com/yPge6BssVj

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) January 28, 2022

The drone show was held for 10 minutes, synchronized with background music. Meanwhile, drones made beautiful formations such as the map of India, the Make In India logo, ”Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” and Mahatama Gandhi inside a rising sun.

Delhi: 1000 Made in India drones make different formations as part of the Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk pic.twitter.com/4a30cu0qQu

— ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2022

India’s map was also made on the globe that looked fantastic.

#WATCH | 1000 Made in India drones make different formations as part of the Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk, Delhi pic.twitter.com/aSrE5krh0R

— ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2022

What is Beating the Retreat?

Beating the Retreat’ is a centuries-old military tradition dating from the days when troops disengaged from battle at sunset. As soon as the buglers sounded the retreat, the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms, and withdrew from the battlefield. It is for this reason that the custom of standing still during the sounding of retreat has been retained to this day. Colours and standards are cased and flags lowered at retreats.

Drumbeats recall the days when troops, billeted in towns and cities, were recalled to their quarters at an appointed time in the evening. Based on these military traditions, ‘Beating the Retreat’ ceremony creates a mood of nostalgia of the times gone by.