Beating retreat in India officially denotes the end of Republic Day festivities. It is conducted on the evening of 29 January, the third day after the Republic Day, and is organized by Section D of the Ministry of Defence. Beating Retreat is a ceremony that marks the end of Republic Day festivities in India. It is held on the evening of January 29, three days after Republic Day, at the Vijay Chowk in New Delhi. The beating retreat ceremony in India was first held in the 1950s, during the state visit of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.