Wagah Border Retreat Ceremony

[LiberalArkie]

[yuiyoshida]

1. with all that high stepping and kicking

I can just imagine these guys in the gym wearing their yoga pants and stretching like ballerinas!

[Raster]

2. One people, separated by religion...and constantly on the brink of nuclear war.

[passiveporcupine]

3. We train horses and dogs to act this way.

I think it's pretty silly, but then I don't like parades, or Pomp and Circumstance.

It all reminds me too much of forced obedience, like Hitler, or the Catholic church.

[Jack-o-Lantern]

4. Well it’s interesting to watch, at least the two sides shake hands at the end.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

5. Kind of a mix of tribalism under color of nationalism....

And what's laughable is the similarities between the two and the crowd response is like this is a sporting event.

[SCantiGOP]

6. The narrator sounded like John Cleese

I wasn't sure it was real for a while.

That is some bizzare stuff. It was OK to keep the infrastructure from the British, but they should have gotten rid of that crap.

[marble falls]

7. Speaking of John Cleese:

[SCantiGOP]

11. I knew that was coming

Just didn't know when.

[marble falls]

16. As slow as I am, I was surprised I wasn't beaten to the post. I remember watching it in....

'73 or '74 on PBS. Great times.

[marble falls]

8. From Wikipedia:

Wagah border ceremony
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wagah Border Ceremony
वागह सीमा समारोह
واہگہ بورڈر کروسِنگ
ਵਗਾਹ ਬੋਰਡਰ ਨੀ


The lowering of the flags, or the Beating Retreat ceremony at Wagah border, is a daily military practice that the security forces of India (Border Security Force) and Pakistan (Pakistan Rangers) have jointly followed since 1959.[1] The drill is characterized by elaborate and rapid dance-like maneuvers, which has been described as "colorful" .[1] It is alternatively a symbol of the two countries' rivalry, as well as brotherhood and cooperation between the two nations. Sometimes leaders called it "ugly".[2]


Overview

This ceremony takes place every evening before sunset at the Wagah border, which as part of the Grand Trunk Road was the only road link between these two countries before the opening of the Aman Setu in Kashmir in 1999. The ceremony starts with a blustering parade by the soldiers from both the sides, and ends up in the perfectly coordinated lowering of the two nations' flags.[3] It is called the beating retreat border ceremony on the international level. One infantryman stands at attention on each side of the gate. As the sun sets, the iron gates at the border are opened and the two flags are lowered simultaneously. The flags are folded and the ceremony ends with a retreat that involves a brusque handshake between soldiers from either side, followed by the closing of the gates again. The spectacle of the ceremony attracts many visitors from both sides of the border, as well as international tourists.[3] In October 2010, Major General Yaqub Ali Khan of the Pakistan Rangers decided that the aggressive aspect of the ceremonial theatrics should be toned down.[1][4]

On 2 November 2014, approximately 60 people were killed and at least 110 people were injured in a suicide attack on the Pakistan side of the Wagah border. An 18- to 20-year-old attacker detonated a 5 kg explosive in his vest 500 metres from the crossing point in the evening right after the Wagah border ceremony ended.[5][6]



Its a toned version......!!!!!

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

9. In the high kicking, they don't keep the knees very straight.

A few weeks with the director of the Rockettes should probably whip them into shape.

[FrodosPet]

10. If only all diplomacy was conducted by dance

"Peacekeeping With The Stars"

[Pastiche423]

14. That was wonderful, thanks!

Christopher likes to work a jig into all of his movies. Great to see an example, but I am surprised there were no cowbells.

[valerief]

12. Holy shit! The Ministry of Silly Walks has always been my favorite Python bit.

I never realized it was based on reality.

[packman]

13. Feel kinda silly and cheap now -

We only have the Blue Angels, the Army Golden Knights and other low-keyed crap.

[dawn frenzy adams]

15. The only thing I can say is...

Men!

[marble falls]

17. C'mon .... out here in the Hindi-Kush, this is as close as we get to Broadway shows!