After 18 months, BSF resumes public viewing of Attari-Wagah retreat event

Amritsar, Sept 18: The popular beating retreat ceremony of the Border Security Force (BSF) has resumed at the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab with a limited number of attendees. The resumption comes after a year and half as it was suspended due to COVID-19.

 

 

BSF will allow 300 visitors in the spectators gallery for the over an hour-long daily event against its capacity to accommodate more than 25,000. The public viewing was suspended by India on March 7 to contain the coronavirus spread.

 

 

Meanwhile, Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Khaira said that the ceremony has not been officially declared open. "BSF had contacted us orally regarding opening the retreat ceremony for public. We gave them the Punjab government’s Covid-19 restrictions’ list. There is general limit of 300 on the outdoor gatherings. It is good if BSF can maintain that limit," said Khaira, adding that earlier state government had extended the restrictions in state till September 30.

 

 

India and Pakistan have been traditionally hosting the evening flag-lowering ceremonies at the Attari-Wagah border for many years now and the event is attended by a huge number of people from both countries as well as foreign nationals.

 

 

The BSF conducts the synchronised ceremony in coordination with their counterparts Pak Rangers and it involves lowering of the flags of the two countries along with foot stomping movements of the troops with patriotic songs playing in the background.