It has always been a treasured memory for me watching the Wagah Border – Attari border ceremony, live on YouTube with my equally excited family. Now imagine my excitement when I got the chance to witness it in person at the Wagah Border!
To say that I was in for a surprise would be an understatement. And, keeping me on the edge of my seat was the nation’s pride and patriotism fluttering around like the flags that got hoisted up the pole.
I’ll be taking you through a detailed guide on how this experience went about.
Location
The Wagah-Attari is the geographical border between India and Pakistan. Whether it is the high degree of security assisted by the Border Security Force or the mutual understanding between both the countries, there hadn’t been many safety disruptions around this area. Attari lies 3 kilometers from the Indo-Pak border at Wagah. Almost an hour’s drive away from the city of Amritsar, it’s the last connecting rail network between Lahore and Delhi.
The Ceremony
Watching the people join together to watch the Independence Day hoisting has always been a sight that indescribably heartened me. Two nations that would fall as immediate enemies in Chanakya’s books, coming to the borders to honor their fraternity is an expression worth melting for. That to every day without fail. Every single day.
The ceremony which kickstarts around 5:00 pm is a highly secured and happening event.
Before entering the premises, the bags you carry are thoroughly checked and only once everything is assured, the program begins.
Watching it for real for the very first time, I was scared to blink even for a second so that I don’t miss even one bit of it.
Opening of the gates.
Hoisting of the flags.
Parade of the soldiers.
Excited spectators on each tier.
All of it will give you goosebumps no matter how many times you watch it.
Hyped up by folk acts such as the Bhangra, there wouldn’t be even one dull moment in the entire ritual.
The uniformed soldiers who take over soon after the colorful performances conduct their parade meticulously.
Mirroring each other’s actions there were the soldiers on either side of the gate. A sense of brotherhood lingers in the air while did so.
I think that’s the entire point of being at Wagah. Realizing that at the end of the day we were all made from the same land and there’s much beyond the disputes we all hold on to. Whether it’s politics or cricket or way beyond all that.
That’s exactly what makes Wagah Border ceremony one of its kind as well.
Attractions Nearby – Some other places you can visit while your trip to Wagah is the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, the Partition Museum, and the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum.
1. Jallianwala Bagh
2. Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum
3. Partition Museum
4. Golden Temple
