Unusual Flag Ceremony Takes Place Daily At Indian-Pakistani Border
  • 9 years ago
Known as the Wagah crossing, it allows entry into either country, and each evening military guards from either side perform a silly, over-the-top flag-lowering ceremony.

Neighboring India and Pakistan have a long running dispute with one another, but they're able to put their differences aside each night and perform a daily tradition.

Every evening, soldiers from both countries take part in a festive flag ceremony at a border crossing.

The Wagah border crossing is the only road entry between the two countries. The flags are lowered, and gates on both sides are closed each night in a most spectacular fashion.

The ceremony is called the "Beating Retreat." Thousands of spectators, including Indians, Pakistanis and foreign tourists, watch as military guards perform the highly choreographed ceremony.

It includes a parade of quick-stepped marching and competitive high-kicking between India's Border Security Force and the Pakistan Rangers.

A "yell-off" then commences, where each side takes turns hollering into a microphone to see who can do it the loudest, and the longest.

Afterwards, the flags are taken down, and the soldiers salute and shake hands before returning to their respective sides.

First introduced in late 1950, this event has happened every night at sunset for the past six decades.

The only time it's been cancelled was during the 1965 and 1971 wars between the two countries.

Even after a recent terrorist attack happened during the ritual, the show has continued to go on.
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