India and Pakistan Wagah Border Closing Ceremony

January 1, 2016 9:00 PM

India and Pakistan Wagah Border Closing Ceremony A little explanation : "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.The drill is characterized by elaborate and rapid dance-like maneuvers, which has been described as "colorful" .It is alternatively a symbol of the two countries' rivalry, as well as brotherhood and cooperation between the two nations." from the Wiki.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies (19 comments total)

My memory is fuzzy, but this was the premise of a feature story on a nightly news (forget if it was ABC or NBC) back in the early 2000s...
posted by JoeXIII007 at 9:20 PM on January 1, 2016 [1 favorite]

Love that handshake right at the end.
posted by Itaxpica at 9:22 PM on January 1, 2016 [4 favorites]

Dance, fuckers, dance. Keep your hands off the nukes and motherfucking dance, I said.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:24 PM on January 1, 2016 [2 favorites]

There was footage of this on one of Anthony Bourdain's travel shows. It looked pretty fun, as displays of military aggression go.
posted by GameDesignerBen at 9:31 PM on January 1, 2016 [1 favorite]

In a similar vein: Indian Artillery Demonstration.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 9:50 PM on January 1, 2016 [2 favorites]

Ah, here's the opening ceremony!
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 9:54 PM on January 1, 2016 [1 favorite]

Ooops, maybe just the extended version of the closing one....
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 9:57 PM on January 1, 2016 [1 favorite]

It had somehow never occurred to me that 'beating a quick retreat' involved drums.
posted by jamjam at 10:53 PM on January 1, 2016 [1 favorite]

It is a retreat as opposed to reveille to mark end or start of a day's duty, not a retreat as in run away from battle.
posted by techSupp0rt at 1:53 AM on January 2, 2016 [1 favorite]

Also don´t forget the India Army Motorcycle Corps!
posted by foleypt at 2:15 AM on January 2, 2016 [1 favorite]

This is pretty amazing when you see it live.
posted by bardophile at 2:18 AM on January 2, 2016 [1 favorite]

Reminds me of a haka.
posted by tavella at 3:11 AM on January 2, 2016 [3 favorites]

Reminds me of a haka.

That was my reaction as well.

In a similar vein: Indian Artillery Demonstration .

The coordinated movements and dancing steps made it seem like artillery as performed by a boy band, great theater but an odd combination with war machinery.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:45 AM on January 2, 2016 [1 favorite]

I saw this with my own eyes, it was incredible to see.
posted by Meatbomb at 7:03 AM on January 2, 2016 [1 favorite]

The fish-slapping dance - adapted for field artillery

posted by flabdablet at 8:20 AM on January 2, 2016 [1 favorite]

Obviously John Cleese picked up some material here.
posted by Oyéah at 8:30 AM on January 2, 2016 [1 favorite]

Also step shows.
posted by zoinks at 8:52 AM on January 2, 2016 [2 favorites]

I have seen film of this marvelous threat display before.
It's pretty cool as ridiculous displays of masculinity and territorial aggression go. I wish countries would do this instead of going to war.
The Indian Motorcycle Corps is pretty awesome too.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 10:51 AM on January 2, 2016

I think between the uniforms and the facial hair, Pakistan won this round.
posted by kersplunk at 11:05 AM on January 3, 2016