President Murmu will award the Silver Trumpet to the President's Bodyguard.

  • Oct. 27, 2022, 1:07 p.m.

President Droupadi Murmu will present the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President's Bodyguard (PBG) at a ceremony to be held at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday. A full dress rehearsal was conducted on Wednesday. 

In the one-and-a-half-hour-long ceremony, the PBG will accept the President's Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner. The veterans will do the parade, and LED lights on horses for display will be performed for the first time during the ceremony. 

The parade will be followed by an audio-visual presentation highlighting the history and significance of the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner, as well as the PBG's modern-day role. 
Professionally honed with precision and trained to perfection, the horsemen will display a variety of traditional Indian equestrian skills, followed by the horses trotting in line with the music of the military band.

On October 27th, the ceremony becomes even more special as the President's Bodyguard is celebrating 250 years of its Rais, coinciding with 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' and the presentation of the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner by the President of India at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Talking about the ceremony, Commandant, President's Bodyguard Colonel Anup Tiwary said, "There would be the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet banner presentation which is done to the President's bodyguard by the President of India. The banner has the President's name inscribed in the Devanagari script. So far, 13 presidents have presented it. 

The PBG has the unique distinction of being the only military unit of the Indian Army privileged to carry the President's Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner.
"This banner has got the names of the Presidents in Devanagari script. The event is conducted once during the whole tenure of each president. However, this year, since PBG is entering its 250th year of raising, this ceremony becomes more important for us, "Tiwary said.

Highlighting a special performance done for the 250th year during the ceremony, the PBG commandant mentioned that a veteran's parade with old riders in their 80's for the very first time would be mounted on horses to mark the occasion, besides a musical ride with LED displays in the sprawling sandstone forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. 

"We have included veterans for the first time. Some of these people have represented the nation in the Asian Games and won medals for the country. There would be an LED display by night. So these are some of the unique things that one should witness this year, "Tiwary added. 

The President's Bodyguard has a long and rich history that commenced with its raising on September 30, 1773, at Benares. It is the seniormost regiment whose distinction is in its position as "Right of Line" on all ceremonial occasions. PBG performs the dual role of ceremonial tasks at Rashtrapati Bhavan as well as operational tasks with Para formation subject to release by the President of India. The Regiment has a carefully preserved, rich legacy nurtured over the years and will commemorate 250 years of celebrations (Sestercentennial) in the years 2022–203, which will be a landmark event for the Regiment and Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Traditionally, all cavalry units carry a trumpet. Over the years, the notes of the trumpet have always heralded the triumphant passage of ceremonial splendour. This tradition of the presentation of the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner commenced in 1923 when the Bodyguard had completed 150 years of honourable service. After independence, when India became a Republic, the first Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner presentations took place on May 14, 1957, when Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the President of India. Since then, 13 presidents have presented the banner. 

Author : Rajdhani Delhi Representative

Rajdhani delhi representative

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