BSF to renew Beating Retreat ceremony at Punjab borders from May 21 with restricted protocols and no public interplay with Pakistan Rangers.
New Delhi:
After a short suspension as a consequence of heightened tensions, the Beating Retreat ceremony on the India-Pakistan border in Punjab is ready to renew on May 21. The Border Security Force (BSF) has introduced that the every day flag-lowering ceremony will as soon as once more be open to the general public at Attari-Wagah, Hussainiwala, and Sadki border posts.
The ceremony had been closed to spectators for practically two weeks following India’s Operation Sindoor, a navy response to the April 22 terrorist assault in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. With tensions easing after a ceasefire settlement on May 10, the BSF has determined to reopen the occasion to the general public, albeit with just a few notable adjustments to its conventional format.
The revised timing for the ceremony shall be from 6:00 PM to six:30 PM. However, sure ceremonial practices shall be suspended in the intervening time. Officials confirmed that throughout the flag-lowering, the gates between India and Pakistan will stay closed, and there shall be no customary handshake between BSF personnel and Pakistan Rangers—each of which had been beforehand integral elements of the ceremony.
Despite these adjustments, BSF officers clarified that the ritual of decreasing the nationwide flag has continued every day, even within the absence of a public viewers.
What is the beating retreat ceremony? Held on the border posts of Attari (Amritsar), Hussainiwala (Ferozepur), and Sadki (Fazilka), the Beating Retreat ceremony is a every day joint navy apply carried out by the BSF and the Pakistan Rangers. Known for its high-energy drills, synchronized marching, and patriotic fervor, the ceremony attracts 1000’s of spectators from throughout India and overseas.
Typically, the timing of the occasion varies seasonally—beginning at 4:15 PM in winters and round 5:15 PM throughout summers. For now, the ceremony will happen from 6:00 PM to six:30 PM.
With the resumption of the ceremony from Wednesday, May 21, guests will as soon as once more be capable of witness this iconic occasion, albeit in a extra restrained format reflecting the present geopolitical sensitivities.
(PTI inputs)
