Friday 15 April 2011

Day 11 - Tuesday 5th April 2011 - Wagah Border, Changing Guard Ceremony then Palki Ceremony at The Golden Temple

The Changing of The Guard Ceremony at Wagah Border is a slightly silly yet enjoyable daily border display between India’s Border Security Forces and the Pakistani Rangers. 
The 45 minute choreographed ceremony, which officially closes the border each evening between the two countries, has been enacted daily since 1959. Dressed in elaborate turbans topped with huge fans, complicated uniforms and shiny black boots the soldiers from the two nations high-kick towards each other.  Apparently all the soldiers are 7ft and over.  They're also extremely handsome and obviously enjoy the attention from their audience (us included)!!








Later that evening we went to The Golden Temple to watch the Palki Ceremony.  This unmissable ceremony of ‘Palki Sahib’ takes place each evening,  The Holy Granth (book) of the Sikhs is taken in a Golden Palanquin to it’s nightly abode, amidst the chanting of hymns, cattle drums and ‘nagaras’ (trumpets).

1 comment:

  1. Thank you for the post and beautiful pictures. The Wagah border 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.It is attended by visitors from both sides. For more information, check Wagah Border ceremony timings.

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