WATCH: Dazzling drones, projection mapping show add colour to Beating the Retreat

As a cold zephyr blew across the historic Vijay Chowk, multiple colours dotted the sky with around 1,000 drones taking flight, a projection mapping show with myriad hues depicted the country's 75 years of independence and foot-tapping tunes filled the air, marking another colourful Beating Retreat ceremony on Saturday.

From the drones show to projection mapping show, this year's ceremony also presented quite a few firsts.

For the first time in more than 70 years, popular and favourite hymn of Mahatma Gandhi 'Abide With Me' did not echo at the Vijay Chowk, where dignitaries and people, wearing masks gathered amid pandemic clouds.

The hymn was replaced by the popular patriotic song 'Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon', which was written by Kavi Pradeep to commemorate the supreme sacrifice made by Indian soldiers during the 1962 Indo-China war.

The sky dazzled with drones, fabricated through indigenous technology, as the show lasted for around 10 minutes along with synchronised background music.

Also watch: Republic Day 2022: major highlights from the grand parade at Rajpath

A projection mapping show to commemorate 75 years of independence on the walls of North Block and South Block, added colours to the ambience.

Foot-tapping music by the bands of Indian Army, Navy, Air Force and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) filled the air. They also stood in various formations.