It is 6.30 am.
The sound of music, marching of footsteps and hoofbeats arise from within Rashtrapati Bhavan complex , official residence of the President of India.
As it grows louder, a contingent of the Rajputana Rifles (Infantry) Battalion and mounted troops of The President's Bodyguard, accompanied by a brass band in colourful maroon berets of the Parachute Regiment, emerge on to Rajpath from the South Sunken Road, marching to the strains of Vijay Bharat.
Every week on Saturday a ceremonial changing of the guard of the Rashtrapati Bhavan takes place.
Changing of the guard is a military tradition .While the guard at Rashtrapati Bhavan changes daily, every Saturday a traditional military ritual of guard changing is conducted with precision and solemnity at a fixed time and place.
The PBG is the oldest and seniormost unit of the Indian Army and the President's personal troops.
Raised in Benares in September 1773, it was created as 'The Governor's Troop of Mogul's' by Warren Hastings.
It was known variously as 'The Troop of Bodyguard', 'The Troop of Horseguards', 'Governors Troops', 'Governor's Bodyguard' and 'The Body Troop'.
On India becoming a republic in 1950, with Dr Rajendra Parsad as its first President, it came to be known in its present form as The President's Bodyguard.
Every week this short spectacle of colour and martial music, horse and man, rifle and lance, bugle and brass, traditions and trumpets leave a distinct feeling of nostalgia grandeur and pride for being a part of it all.
Photograph courtesy: Rashtrapati Bhavan
