Near the Attari-Wagah joint check post, many familiar sights and sounds, missing for the past 18 months, welcome a visitor. “Just Rs 20,” says a young boy, painting the tricolor on the hands and cheeks of the visitors. “We are back after a long time, we have waited for this day.”
The only difference is: not everyone who lined up outside can now come in. While the BSF has resumed public viewings of its daily Beating the Retreat parade later this week (after closing in March 2020), only 300 people are allowed each day. Due to which the crowd of thousands was disappointed outside.
A 25-minute coordinated parade of both sides each evening at Attari attracted 25,000 spectators on the Indian side. “Unless there are restrictions, we are allowing a limited number of people on a first-come-first-served basis,” says a BSF official. Visitors will have to buy the pass from the BSF Headquarters at Khasa near Attari.
At the stands, most people wear masks – and their patriotism on their sleeves. A masked BSF jawan, who practices, shouts: ‘Bharat Mata ki…’, and an enthusiastic crowd responds, ‘Jai’. Every time he flicks his mustache and gestures to the other side, someone in the crowd shouts, “Hindustan Zindabad”. People take off masks from time to time to take selfies.
“Hindustan Zindabad” is mixed with “Pakistan Zindabad” from the other side. Pakistan never presented its side to the audience. On the Indian side, four BSF personnel will conduct a flag-down parade every sunset.
From Saturday onwards, the BSF resumed the full parade – with loud gestures, mics, orchestra and celebrations, led by its women contingent.
As the parade progresses, the spectators keep coming and going. A BSF official says, “Many tourists request us to let them see it. We feel bad for them, but we can’t move.
However, they said they are expecting “housefull crowds and normal protocols to resume within the next week”.
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