English: Navy Day is observed on 04 December every year to commemorate the glorious victory of the Indian Navy during the Indo-Pakistan war 1971. As part of the celebrations, the traditional ‘Beating Retreat and Tattoo Ceremony’ was held at the Gateway of India on 04 December 2019. The Hon'ble Governor of Maharashtra Shri Bharat Singh Koshyari was the Chief Guest on this momentous occasion hosted by Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command. The event was also attended by senior officers from various organisations, dignitaries, special guests and serving Naval personnel veterans and their families.

The highlights of the event included breath-taking performances by the Naval Band, an Op Demo Display, Beating Retreat Ceremony, Fly-past by Naval helicopters based at Naval Air Station, INS Shikra, Continuity drill by Naval personnel and Sailor’s Hornpipe dance by the Sea Cadet Corps. This year the Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet band also participated and enthralled the audience with their song and dance ensemble.

The ‘Beating Retreat’ ceremony has been a tradition since the early days of military history. In the days of the yore, the Retreat was sounded every day as a signal to the troops to disengage from combat as daylight faded, ordering them to withdraw to the confines of their encampment for the night. Since then, the ceremony of ‘Beating Retreat’ has become an integral part of military traditions. The custom of ‘Tattoo Ceremony’ encompasses beating the drums within the billets, ordering them to proceed to their quarters after a long day at the battlefield.

The Continuity drill performance by the ‘Nauveers’ of 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron was spectacular and mesmerising, as the entire drill sequence was executed without a single word of command. The purpose of performing drill in immaculate turnout in the military is to inculcate essential qualities of military bearing, pride in one self, implicit obedience of orders and above all, to instill unity of purpose and espirit-de-corps.

The Naval aviators with their flying machines displayed clockwork precision manoeuvres. Special heliborne operations were undertaken by Seaking helicopters and the flypast drew a grand applause from the large gathering all around the Gateway of India.

The dare-devilry and grit of the famed Marine Commandos of the Navy was aptly on display in an exciting extraction sequence executed from atop the Gateway of India, while the delightful Hornpipe dance by the young cadets of the Sea Cadet Corps was a crowd favourite.

Later in the evening, the traditional ‘At Home’ reception was hosted by the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command at the Navy House.