Low-key Beating Retreat ceremony at 3 India-Pak border points in Punjab resumes today

IANS May 20, 2025 315 views

The Border Security Force is set to restart the iconic Beating Retreat ceremony at three Punjab border locations after a brief military-related pause. The event, which normally attracts hundreds of spectators, will proceed with reduced interactions between Indian and Pakistani border guards. Unlike previous ceremonies, there will be no handshakes or opening of border gates this time. The scaled-down version maintains the decades-old tradition of flag-lowering at sunset, symbolizing the complex relationship between the two neighboring countries.

"The Beating Retreat ceremony has an electrifying effect on the boisterous audience" - IANS Report
Low-key Beating Retreat ceremony at 3 India-Pak border points in Punjab resumes today
Chandigarh, May 20: After 10 days of ceasefire between India and Pakistan, the Beating Retreat ceremony by the Border Security Force (BSF) is set to resume on Tuesday evening in a scaled-down version at the Attari-Wagah, Hussainiwala, and Fazilka borders, all situated in Punjab.

Key Points

1

Low-key ceremony resuming at Attari-Wagah, Hussainiwala, and Fazilka borders

2

No handshakes or gate openings with Pakistani personnel

3

Spectators allowed to witness flag-lowering event

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Ceremony continues historic cross-border tradition since 1959

This comes after a 12-day pause amid military conflict between the two countries.

Officials informed IANS that there will be no handshake with armed personnel on the Pakistani side or the opening of border gates; however, audiences will still be permitted to witness the ceremony.

The ceremonies will take place at 6 p.m. at the Attari border near Amritsar, the Hussainiwala border in Ferozepur, and the Sadqi border in Fazilka.

The Border Area Development Front has given a call to the locals to reach Sadqi by 5.30 p.m. to enjoy the ceremony in large numbers.

On normal occasions, hundreds of spectators, comprising foreigners, gather to witness the ceremony.

The Beating Retreat, the first-of-its-kind iconic ceremony with an electrifying effect on the boisterous audience on the borders of two countries near Amritsar, has been witnessing a military exercise and lowering of the national flags of both India and Pakistan just before dusk since 1959.

The border guards on both sides normally exchange sweets on special occasions like Diwali and Eid, as well as Independence Day and Republic Day functions.

The Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post, which is some 30 km from Amritsar, while it is 22 km from Lahore in Pakistan, comprises a gallery with a capacity to accommodate nearly 25,000 spectators to witness the flag-lowering ceremony.

It was closed to spectators in the first week of March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. India had chosen to skip the tradition in 2019 over growing incidents of ceasefire violations across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. After the surgical strikes by Indian forces across the borders in September 2016, the BSF did not offer sweets to the Pakistan Rangers.

Reader Comments

R
Rajesh K.
Good to see the ceremony resuming, even if scaled down. These small gestures matter for peace at the border. But we must remain cautious - Pakistan's track record isn't great. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
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Priya M.
Attended the ceremony last year - such a powerful display of patriotism! Though I understand why they're keeping it low-key now. Hope one day we can have full ceremonies without tension 🤞
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Amit S.
No handshake with Pakistani forces is the right call. Why pretend everything is normal when cross-border terrorism continues? Our BSF jawans show enough restraint as it is.
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Neha T.
The ceremony is a major tourist attraction and source of livelihood for locals. Hope the scaled-down version doesn't affect businesses too much. Punjab has suffered enough economically.
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Vikram J.
While I appreciate the symbolism, we must remember this is just ceremony. Real peace will come when Pakistan stops supporting terror groups targeting India. Actions speak louder than flag-lowering rituals.
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Sunita R.
My grandfather served at Attari border in 1971 war. These ceremonies make me emotional - they show how far we've come, yet how much remains unresolved between our nations. Praying for lasting peace 🙏

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India-Pakistan Border Beating Retreat Ceremony Border Security Force Punjab Borders Attari-Wagah