New Delhi: Three decades after its discontinuation at public functions due to security reasons, the historic presidential buggy today made a comeback with President Pranab Mukherjee arriving in it to attend Beating the Retreat ceremony.
Mukherjee was greeted with loud cheers by hundreds of spectators who had gathered to witness the colourful event as he came in the open gold-plated carriage.
The armoured Limousine, which is usually used by the President, followed the buggy to its path to Vijay Chowk from Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The six-horse driven carriage was used by the Viceroy during the British rule. After Independence, it has remained with the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The Beating the Retreat ceremony which takes place on Vijay Chowk on Rajpath, is an yearly event that marks the end of Republic Day celebrations.
"It lends a lot of elegance to a function like Beating Retreat when President arrives in the buggy which has been part of our tradition," said Venu Rajamony, Press Secretary to the President.
President has been using the buggy to move around within the Rashtrapati Bhavan as it is environment friendly, he said.
Almost 30 years ago, former President late Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed had used the buggy to reach the exit gate of Rashtrapati Bhavan from where he would travel in car to attend the ceremony.
An open horses driven buggy was seen as a security threat by security agencies then, following which the traditional carriage was replaced by bullet-proof cars. The practice followed till this year`s Beating the Retreat ceremony.
