The units included Jammu and Kashmir regiment, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, the Gorkha Rifles and Jat Regiment - all of whom won laurels in the Kargil war.

With drums and pipes, the smartly turned out army bandsmen started with 'Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja', a marching tune, and ended with patriotic 'Sare Jahan Se Achchha Hindustan Hamara'. Two all-time favourites of all Beating Retreat ceremonies across the country - the Ladakhi cradle song 'Siki Amo Le' and hymn 'Abide with Me' - were included.

The gathering that was largely composed of the families of the war heroes, surviving soldiers, leading officials of the Northern Command and people of this town at a height of over 10,000 feet, hummed along.

As the twilight made way for the night's darkness, all those gathered for the occasion moved to the War Memorial and held a candlelight vigil in memory of the heroes.