Independence Day: Soldiers show valour at Beating the Retreat Ceremony at Attari Border

The ‘Beating the Retreat’ ceremony was held on Tuesday at Attari-Wagah Border near Punjab's Amritsar on the occasion of the 77th Independence Day. Thousands of people gathered to witness the highly electrifying and spectacular atmosphere as they were heard singing songs, chanting slogans, dancing, cheering for Indian soldiers and waving National flags. They were also heard chanting 'Vande Mataram', 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Hindustan Zindabad' with pride and joy.

The ceremony is a daily military practice that India's Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers have jointly followed together since 1959. The Beating Retreat is an iconic ritual of lowering the National flags of both countries at the border just before sunset.

Beating Retreat Ceremony

During the retreat, BSF soldiers were seen marching forward with vigour and ferocity as they proudly carried the National Flag in their hands. In a show of strength, the Indian jawans presented their valour by goose march and stomping of feet on the hard gravel surface. The jawans were also seen performing aggressive gestures such as raising fists and twirling moustaches. The soldiers were also accompanied by two guard dogs. 

#HarGharTiranga| BSF soldiers twirling moustaches and raising fists during the Beating Retreat ceremony.#IndependenceDay #AttariWagahBorder #BeatingRetreatCeremony #PMModi #IndianArmedForces #BSF

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The ceremony concluded as the flags of India and Pakistan were hoisted at the Attari-Wagah Border. Several cultural, musical and dance performances were organised as part of the Beating Retreat Ceremony. 

#HarGharTiranga | Indian and Pakistani flags hoisted at the Attari-Wagah border during the Beating Retreat ceremony on 77th Independence Day.#IndependenceDay #AttariWagahBorder #BeatingRetreatCeremony #PMModi #IndianArmedForces #BSF

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On August 14, on Independence Day eve, the BSF jawans and Pakistan Rangers exchanged sweets at the Attari-Wagah Border.

Significance of Beating the Retreat

The iconic ceremony at the Attari-Wagah Border witnesses people from both India and Pakistan every year cheer for their soldiers. A great level of patriotism is felt in the air on both sides. Despite the intimidating eye-to-eye staring and ferocious actions, at no point during the 45-minute ceremony is there any physical contact between the two forces. The only physical contact is a terse handshake between both sides at the end of the ceremony when the national flags are lowered down.

It is pertinent to mention that in the year 2017, India built a 110-meter flagpole in Attari, the Indian side of the Border, which sits a little over 30km away from the holy city of Amritsar, and equally close to the Pakistani city of Lahore on the other side.