Wanderlust Tales : Amritsar Diaries - The valor of the Jawaans at the Wagah Border, Punjab
DAY 3
The event of lowering the flags at the Wagah-Attari border is an experience of a lifetime. 🙌
HOW TO GET HERE:
The ceremony typically starts between 16:00 hours to 16:30 hours.Be sure to reach there early, which will attribute in grabbing seats with a good view of the ceremony.
For the visit, we hired a cab which cost us roughly around Rs.1200/- to and fro. He was one of the Ola drivers with whom we had taken a ride earlier, he gave us a competitive package.
You will find lot of these drivers luring you with packages, saying Ola charges way beyond this for a day trip - some very sweetly put such high numbers - my my, but 1200 bucks seemed reasonable. 👍
The border is located at a distance of 32 kms and it was a ride of 45 minutes.
There is one toll that needs to be paid - our ride was toll and parking covered.
The drive is extremely pleasant with flourishing farms on either sides of the road. You would find a lot many heavy vehicles plying on these roads - majorly carrying import/export goods from/to India/Pakistan.
There are lot of hath rickshaws plying who charge you insanely anything between Rs.50 - Rs.100 - but that would be a better option than walking and tiring yourself before the ceremony.
AMRITSAR DIARIES:
The event of lowering the flags at the Wagah-Attari border is an experience of a lifetime. 🙌
HOW TO GET HERE:
The ceremony typically starts between 16:00 hours to 16:30 hours.Be sure to reach there early, which will attribute in grabbing seats with a good view of the ceremony.
For the visit, we hired a cab which cost us roughly around Rs.1200/- to and fro. He was one of the Ola drivers with whom we had taken a ride earlier, he gave us a competitive package.
You will find lot of these drivers luring you with packages, saying Ola charges way beyond this for a day trip - some very sweetly put such high numbers - my my, but 1200 bucks seemed reasonable. 👍
The border is located at a distance of 32 kms and it was a ride of 45 minutes.
There is one toll that needs to be paid - our ride was toll and parking covered.
The drive is extremely pleasant with flourishing farms on either sides of the road. You would find a lot many heavy vehicles plying on these roads - majorly carrying import/export goods from/to India/Pakistan.
Please note that there is a dedicated parking lot for the 4 wheeler, but from here it is a walk of about 1.5 kms or so to the stadium where the ceremony is conducted.
https://xylo742.blogspot.com/2018/04/wanderlust-tales-amritsar-diaries-amrit.html
Golden Temple
https://xylo742.blogspot.in/2018/04/wanderlust-tales-amritsar-diaries_7.html
Hopping around the city:
HISTORY:
The lowering of the flags ceremony at the Wagah Border is a daily activity jointly conducted by the Border Security Force and the Pakistan Rangers. This drill has been prevalent since the year 1959. 😊
The ceremony is also called the Beating Retreat ceremony. After a series of parades and display of valor and aggression by the soldiers, right at sunset - the gates at the border are opened.
The flags of the simultaneous countries are lowered down, followed by a firm handshake by the soldiers at the either side.
The soldiers are trained specially for the event.
This division was created by Sir Radcliffe - and this was the only road linking between the countries before 1999 opening of the Aman Setu.
CEREMONY:
There are checkpoints and frisking before you enter the stadium like structure. Post the frisking too - there is a lot of walking to do - about 800 m. People are just rushing in, to get the perfect seats for themselves. 😀
Although pricy, water and snacks are sold inside.
The seating arena has been designed like stadium and it can easily accommodate more than 2000 folks.
It was interesting to see, how a Jawan had been positioned right at the gate fences facing our counterpart Pakistan soldiers - I am pretty sure they must be great friends and sharing a good rapport with each other. 😂
But if you look at it, that one gate defines a country's length - in just 500 m you would land up in another country altogether. 😕
There is a continuous play of patriotic songs in high volume - well that seemed too unnecessary - as it creates unwanted tension and competition between the cheering crowds. 😔
The Pakistan counterparts had very little participation - also the day we were here - it was pouring crazy. 😒
Once this is over, finally the Jawans come on field. And it is now that the drums are rolled and it was a defining proud moment for me to see a lady commander commence the parade. 👌
Post this, a group of Jawans started with their showcase of aggression,stomping of the foot hard on the floor and the kicking of the leg as high in the air as it can go. Wow!
If you seat yourself closer to the gates on a higher platform - you would also be able to witness the activities of the ceremony from the Pakistan side. One thing that caught my eye was the Jawan circling around in one leg in their typical Pathan dress.
The security is very high here - as you can see it is a highly vulnerable junction of the country. There have been past unfortunate incidents in the land.
Those few minutes at the Wagah border bring out the patriotic side of you and it is so enthralling to see the magnitude of excitement the crowd carries.
Especially the slogans - "Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Hindustan Zindabad" being echoed loud and clear. If at all this was the same passion resonated with the numerous inhuman activities happening around the country, and thinking twice before committing such heinous crimes. "Hamari Mata ki raksha karne ki bhi jimmedari hamari hi hai".
The ceremony is well conducted and the crowd management is done well.
I would suggest leaving just about 10-15 minutes before the closing ceremony to avoid any hassles with crowd and the traffic later on the road.
In all, one hell of an experience - seeing lines defining borders definitely sent shivers down my spine - but that's how the countries operate - the norms and rules need to be followed. 👍
KEEP IN MIND :
Cheers to life!!
~Believe in yourself always!
Golden Temple
https://xylo742.blogspot.in/2018/04/wanderlust-tales-amritsar-diaries_7.html
Hopping around the city:
HISTORY:
The lowering of the flags ceremony at the Wagah Border is a daily activity jointly conducted by the Border Security Force and the Pakistan Rangers. This drill has been prevalent since the year 1959. 😊
The ceremony is also called the Beating Retreat ceremony. After a series of parades and display of valor and aggression by the soldiers, right at sunset - the gates at the border are opened.
The flags of the simultaneous countries are lowered down, followed by a firm handshake by the soldiers at the either side.
The soldiers are trained specially for the event.
This division was created by Sir Radcliffe - and this was the only road linking between the countries before 1999 opening of the Aman Setu.
CEREMONY:
There are checkpoints and frisking before you enter the stadium like structure. Post the frisking too - there is a lot of walking to do - about 800 m. People are just rushing in, to get the perfect seats for themselves. 😀Although pricy, water and snacks are sold inside.
The seating arena has been designed like stadium and it can easily accommodate more than 2000 folks.
But if you look at it, that one gate defines a country's length - in just 500 m you would land up in another country altogether. 😕
There is a continuous play of patriotic songs in high volume - well that seemed too unnecessary - as it creates unwanted tension and competition between the cheering crowds. 😔
The Pakistan counterparts had very little participation - also the day we were here - it was pouring crazy. 😒
The ceremony was embarked with a bus carrying tourists and residents from India to Pakistan via those very gates - the border. It was such a feeling - can't be described. 😊
Hats off to the conductor of the ceremony who handled bringing out the vigor and zeal in the crowd, every time the crowd dropped their pitch - he would push up the energies.
There are a variety of activities planned for the public, ranging from Bhangra, to carrying the flag till the border, mass parade planned for about 30 to 45 minutes which truly bring out the unity amongst the people and also excite the crowd - the cheers just get louder. 😛
There are a variety of activities planned for the public, ranging from Bhangra, to carrying the flag till the border, mass parade planned for about 30 to 45 minutes which truly bring out the unity amongst the people and also excite the crowd - the cheers just get louder. 😛
This is a good way to engage the public.
Once this is over, finally the Jawans come on field. And it is now that the drums are rolled and it was a defining proud moment for me to see a lady commander commence the parade. 👌
The security is very high here - as you can see it is a highly vulnerable junction of the country. There have been past unfortunate incidents in the land.
Those few minutes at the Wagah border bring out the patriotic side of you and it is so enthralling to see the magnitude of excitement the crowd carries.
Especially the slogans - "Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Hindustan Zindabad" being echoed loud and clear. If at all this was the same passion resonated with the numerous inhuman activities happening around the country, and thinking twice before committing such heinous crimes. "Hamari Mata ki raksha karne ki bhi jimmedari hamari hi hai".
The ceremony is well conducted and the crowd management is done well.
I would suggest leaving just about 10-15 minutes before the closing ceremony to avoid any hassles with crowd and the traffic later on the road.
In all, one hell of an experience - seeing lines defining borders definitely sent shivers down my spine - but that's how the countries operate - the norms and rules need to be followed. 👍
- Do not carry any bags - nothing more than a tiny purse or a small handbag is allowed in here due to security concerns.
- There is absolutely no fee for attending the programme.
- Ensure to reach the venue by 15:00 hours - many a times if there is a overwhelming crowd - you wouldn't find a place to sit and you would have to watch the ceremony from the screens placed outside the stadium.
- If carrying a camera - carry one with a long distance lens.
- Try to leave at least 10 minutes prior to ceremony closure, to avoid traffic and chaos later.
Videos from the ceremony:
More pictures(Google Drive):
Cheers to life!!
~Believe in yourself always!
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