Every afternoon just before sunset members of the Indian and Pakistan military meet at the border post between Attari & Wagah to engage in a display of military showmanship.
Officially the purpose of the ceremony is to lower the national flag and close the borders but what really happens is a mix of formal marching, chest beating, foot stomping and high stepping as the two sides try to out do each other.
Oiled moustaches and over the top dress uniforms only add to the theatrical mood.
While the participants treat the ceremony with absolute seriousness, the crowds on either side of the border are, at times, here more for the carnival mood than for the symbolism of the rift between these two countries.
Its all highly nationalistic, but considering the tense relations between these two countries , it seems to be remarkably good natured
Muslim Pakistan is on the left and Hindu India on the right
On the Indian side it is full of locals
On the Pakistan side its a more sombre affair , with woman
separated from men
Under the watchful eye of guards on the Indian side
…
….
Woman start to queue
dance and
…
celebrate their pride
…
by running with their national flag towards the closed Pakistan border gates
and back again
On the Pakistan side
…
the border guards begin to assemble
…
The call of the bugle
…
triggers the showmanship
…
Border gates
are flung open
to the joy of both sides
…
…
Pakistan faces India. India faces Pakistan
Flags are lowered
…
…
….
and carried away with equall theatrical flare
After the ceremony crowds flock to the closed gates
and the sun sets on another successful ceremony
Here is a somewhat cobbled together short video (shot with my happy snappy pocket camera) of this border closing ceremony.
Incredible! Must be a great atmosphere! I love the theatrics!
Not easily forgotten—-nor should it be if it allows peace to reign !!
Keep safe please !
Love the pomp and ceremony.. Almost as good as the UK!!
A fantastic mix of cultures.
Thanks for sharing.
Lots of love
Always a pleasure to ride with you :-)
an impressive ceremony and it is better than another war.
more insights… great travels…. thank you. Happy 2016 !!!
Hi, to all, yes, this is incredible, especially the covered women in Pakistan. When I was in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Karachi and Islamabad in the early 90s, there were only few covered women. Realize, that both are “proud” nuclear powers in the 21st century….
These folk are very colourful, lots of bling, bling, just like the charras here in SA.
After seeing your pictures you realise that peace between these countries can only be short lived. The “hot bed” being Kashmir.
Thanks for the pictures!