Thousands attend grand Beating Retreat ceremony at Wagah

On the country’s 79th Independence Day, the Attari-Wagah joint check-post (JCP) witnessed a spirited, grand Beating Retreat ceremony with thousands of visitors from across the country attended the ceremony at Attari-Wagah joint check post (JCP) here on Friday.

Director General, Border Security Force (BSF), Daljit Singh Chawdhary was the chief guest on the occasion while other senior BSF officers, including Satish S Khandare, Additional Director General, and Dr Atul Fulzele, IG, BSF Punjab Frontier, were among others accompanying him. Nevertheless, the gates at the JCP remained closed at the zero line and the traditional handshake between BSF and Pakistani rangers did not take place.

This was stopped in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor as the Indian Government snapped all diplomatic and other ties with the neighbouring nation.

The Beating Retreat ceremony was later resumed after certain changes, including closing down of the gates and no traditional handshake because of security reasons. The border guards of both countries displayed aggressive gestures through faces, eyes, hands and by forcefully stomping their feet.

Jawans and officers of the Border Security Force (BSF) were full of courage and exuded confidence. Meanwhile, various cultural teams arrived from different parts of the country performed at the JCP while BSF troops also showcased daring motorcycle displays of BSF’s Seema Bhawani and Mahila Bolds teams amid the thunderous applause by people. The dog show by the BSF dog contingent excited everyone. Women personnel of the BSF also displayed martial skills. The spectator gallery at JCP having a capacity of around 25,000 was packed to capacity while hundreds of visitors were found waiting outside. They witnessed the ceremony through the large LED screen put up outside the gallery.

The evening culminated in a majestic flag-lowering drill, a symbol of national pride. Later, addressing mediapersons, the DG, BSF, highlighted the BSF’s Dr Atul Fulzele, IG, BSF, Punjab Frontier exceptional achievements along the Punjab frontier during the historic operational success in Operation Sindoor for which the Government of India awarded two Vir Chakra and 16 Gallantry medals to BSF personnel.