A BSF jawan lowering the Indian flag at the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan

As part of the Beating the Retreat ceremony at the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan, a BSF soldier lowers the Indian flag. This is not at the border fence, but actually a few meters away, at one end of the crowd stadiums on the Indian side.

The Indian and Pakistani flags more than half way down their flag-staffs at the Wagah Border

As part of the flag lowering ceremony (Beating the Retreat) at the Wagah border between India and Pakistan near Amritsar, you can see this photo where the flags are more than half way down the flag poles, and the ceremony is almost complete.

Flags halfway down the flagstaff at the Beating the Retreat ceremony at Wagah Border near Amritsar

At the Beating the Retreat flag lowering ceremony at the Wagah border between India and Pakistan, the ceremony has reached the stage where the flags are halfway down.

Crowd carrying Indian flags at the Wagah border between India and Pakistan, on the Indian side

The crowd at the Indian side of the Wagah border (sitting and standing at the stadiums meant to cater to the crowd) carrying Indian flags. There aren't that many, but you could still see a number of people carrying the Indian flag. At the same time, you could not see too many people on the Pakistani side.

The Pakistani and Indian flags starting to be pulled down at the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan

As part of the flag lowering ceremony between India and Pakistan at the Wagah border, the flags are first fully hoisted, and then lowered. Here, you can see the flags being lowered (the starting of the process of bringing the flag down).

Both the Pakistani and Indian flags fluttering in the wind at the Wagah Border near Amritsar

In this photo, you can see both the Indian and the Pakistani flags flaying at full mast at the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan, as a part of the ceremonial flag lowering ceremony every evening at the border. There is a huge crowd which gathers to watch the flag lowering ceremony at every day.

The Pakistani and Indian flag hoisted over the flagstaffs at the Wagah Border

As part of the flag lowering ceremony in the evening at the Wagah border between India and Pakistan, the flags of both nations are drawn fully positioned on top of flagstaffs at both sides of the border, before they are finally lowered.

The fence at the Wagah Border is fully open at this point of time

Another photo of the border fence at the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan is fully open for a brief while, as seen in this photo. On both sides of the fence, personnel from the Pakistani Rangers and the Indian Border Security Force are doing their part of the ceremony.

When the border fences between India and Pakistan open during the flag lowering ceremony at the Wagah Border

As part of the flag lowering ceremony at the Wagah border between India and Pakistan (a very high impact, but short ceremony), the border fence is opened for some time, and then closed. In this fence, you can see how the fence is open now.

Man entertaining the crowd at the Wagah border flag lowering ceremony

The flag lowering ceremony at the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan near Amritsar is a pretty formal ceremony, with the border security forces of both countries having a prominent role in this ceremony. However, to cater to the huge crowd, there was this emcee who was coordinating the entire ceremony, and getting the crowd involved.

Slightly blurred image of Border Security Force personnel marching towards the Wagah border

This is a slightly blurred image of Border Security Force personnel emerging from the BSF post, and marching in step towards the Wagah Border. It was hard to take this photo, because the light was failing, but overall, I think that the personnel are not blurred so much, while the foreground and background were all blurred.

Man directing the personnel of the Border Security Force to speak into a microphone at the Wagah Border

As a part of the ceremony, there was a person who was apparently directing the entire function. He was holding a microphone, and asking the personnel of the Border Security Force to shout out their passion into the mike, and also getting the girls and boys on the ground to sing along with him in a passionate patriotic song.

Clear view of the border fence between India and Pakistan at the Wagah Border

In this photo, inspite of the distance between me and the actual border, you can get a view of the 2 fences at the border between India and Pakistan. You also get to see much of the crowd, but that cannot be avoided.

Cross section of crowd on the Indian side of the Wagah Border near Amritsar

A cross section of the crowd right next to me at the Wagah border between India and Pakistan. In this photo, the crowd was pretty excited, and all of them were standing up to get a better view.

View of the hefty Border Security Force personnel at the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan

View of the Border Security Personnel along with their security post at the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan. In this photo, you can see how all of these personnel are all big stocky individuals, and seems that it is a criteria if you want to serve at this border post.

People all standing up in the stands to get a better view of the Wagah Border ceremony

The situation in crowds is such that when a few people do something, other people also try to copy some of the same behavior. So, in the case of a crowd, when a few people stand up to get a better view, others also need to get up to get a better view, and this has a ripple effect.

View of photographers standing close to the Wagah border - next time will try and be there

If you look closely to the road, you can see photographers on the road. Given that I was seated far back in the stands, I will certainly try the next time to ensure that I am down there, getting a much better view.

View of the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan, along with people on the Pakistani side

In this case, I managed to get a closer view of the border, it was hard because I was seated far behind in the stadium, but used maximum zoom to get this slightly closer view of the actual gates of the border along with a section of the crowd over there.

People not sitting, causing a blocking of the view at the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan

One of the problems with a crowd spectacle is when people do not observe the rules. In this case, at the Wagah border flag lowering ceremony between India and Pakistan, people were standing up in the stadium, which caused problems for the others over there, since they started blocking the view.

A bigger cross section of the crowd on the other stadium at the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan

In this photo, you can see the people on the stadium on the other side of the road (but still on the Indian side), with some people arriving, and others departing as well. A number of people were sitting patiently for the ceremony.

Close up of people in the crowd coming to watch the flag lowering ceremony at the Wagah Border

A cross section of people watching the flag lowering ceremony at the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan. In this photo, you can just see the crowd, not anything of the border, or the security personnel.

A view showing the large number of crowds watching the flag lowering ceremony at the Wagah Border

In this photo, you get to see a view of the crowd at the Wagah Border, along with a view of how far we actually were at the stadium in the border; it was a miracle that I was able to get some photos. Further, you are not allowed to carry a camera bag, so could carry only the lens attached to the camera.

View of the crowd at the structure at the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan

More views of the structures (locally called stadiums) where people coming in to watch the Wagah border ceremony sit. These quickly fill up when the flag lowering ceremony starts in the evening, and is located atleast a hundred meters from the actual border fence.

View of the Border Security Force post next to the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan

The Wagah Border crossing between India and Pakistan is controlled by the border forces of the 2 countries, with the BSF from the Indian side, and the Pakistani Rangers from the Pakistani side. In this photo, you can see the post of the Border Security Force on the Indian side of the border, just a very short distance from the actual border.

Crowd assembled at the stadium like structure at the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan

You can see a photo of the crowd assembled at a stadium like structure just next to the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan. There are multiple such stadium like structures in the area, at both sides of the border, so that the crowd that gathers there could be properly seated.

Women waiting for their turn to carry the Indian flag in front of the BSF post at the Wagah Border

In the previous photos, you could see women carrying the Indian flag during the ceremonies at the flag lowering in the evening. In this photo, you can see a number of women waiting in front of the Border Security Force post at the Wagah Border, waiting for their turn to carry the flag.

Girls running back from the border, after having run to the border with the Indian flag

Here are some more images of the activities around the flag lowering ceremony at the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan. This is a couple of girls, who had the Indian flag with them, being pre-selected by the Border Security Force, and then ran to the border carrying the flag, and back.

People using their cameras to record the flag lowering ceremony at the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan

In this photo, you can see people trying their best to capture the flag lowering ceremony using their cameras and cell phones. However, with the distance between the crowd and the actual flag lowering ceremony location (the border), using a cell phone camera to record this event would give at the most a blurred picture, not very clear.

Watching the flag lowering ceremony between India and Pakistan over the heads of a huge crowd

The flag lowering ceremony between India and Pakistan at the Wagah border is a fairly popular ceremony, with a large crowd coming to witness the ceremony. In this photo, you can actually see how crowded the location is, and since we were not on time, we were only able to watch the ceremony if the crowd would sit down.

Girls running with the Indian flag at the Wagah border between India and Pakistan

During the ceremonial lowering of the flags in the evening at the Wagah Border between India and Pakistan, there is normally a large crowd that comes to watch the ceremony. In this photo, you can see a group of girls running with the Indian flag to the border and back.

BSF Guards guiding some women who would be carrying the flag to the border and back

During the ceremony, there is an abundance of patriotic feeling and nationalism. In the current photo of the Indian side of the Wagah flag-lowering ceremony, you can see a select group of ladies being adviced about handling the Indian flag (they will run with the flag to the border fence and then back).

Trash lying on the ground after the ceremony at Wagah Border between India and Pakistan

The ceremony (flag lowering ceremony) between India and Pakistan at the Wagah Border near Amritsar is attended by a huge number of people every day. There are provisions made for cleanliness, such as dustbins, and the like, but you still have a number of people dumping their trash on the ground rather than in the required place.