Beating Retreat cancelled after former president's death

The annual ceremony of Beating Retreat, the grand finale to the Republic Day celebrations, has been called off following the demise of former president R Venkataraman, defence ministry officials said.

The annual ceremony of Beating Retreat, the grand finale to the Republic Day celebrations, has been called off following the demise of former president R Venkataraman, defence ministry officials said on Tuesday.

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Beating Retreat is held Jan 29 after the Republic Day every year in Delhi, where bands of army, navy and air force play traditional marching tunes. It symbolises the return of troops to their barracks.

Venkataraman died at the Army Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi on Tuesday following prolonged illness. He was 98.

He was the eighth president of the country serving from 1987 to 1992.