Beating Retreat Ceremony To Resume At Attar-Wagah Border Today After Op Sindoor-induced Hiatus
The Beating Retreat ceremony was traditionally performed everyday at sunset at the Attari-Wagah border. Image courtesy: X.com/@BSF_India
After nearly two weeks of suspension prompted by heightened tensions following Operation Sindoor, the daily Beating Retreat ceremony at the India-Pakistan border will resume on Tuesday (May 20).
However, key symbolic elements of the ceremony — including the customary handshake between troops and the opening of border gates — will remain suspended as a continued mark of diplomatic and military caution.
Here’s everything you need to know:
What is the Beating Retreat ceremony?
The Beating Retreat is a daily ceremonial drill performed at sunset by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan’s Pakistan Rangers at joint border checkposts. It has been conducted since 1959 as a symbol of cooperation and discipline, despite broader tensions.
The highlight of the event includes coordinated marching, flag-lowering rituals, and a symbolic handshake between commanding officers of the BSF and Pakistan Rangers. The ceremony draws hundreds of spectators daily and is considered a theatrical display of military pageantry and nationalism.
Where is the ceremony conducted?
In India, the Beating Retreat ceremony is held at:
- Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar district
- Hussainiwala-Ganda Singh Wala border in Ferozepur district
- Sadki border in Fazilka district
Why was it halted?
The ceremony was suspended on May 8, in the wake of escalating India-Pakistan tensions following Operation Sindoor, which was launched on May 7 in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. That attack claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists, and was initially claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, before the claim was retracted.
Anticipating public safety concerns and a possible escalation in hostilities, the BSF cancelled public entry to all three Beating Retreat venues starting April 24, and later suspended the ceremony altogether after Operation Sindoor.
Despite the suspension of the full ceremony, BSF officials continued the daily flag-lowering protocol on the Indian side, even in the absence of public spectators or coordination with Pakistan Rangers.
Security considerations and public safety were cited as the primary reason for suspending audience access, not the ceremonial responsibility itself.
What changes are expected as the ceremony resumes?
While the ceremony will restart, key symbolic features will remain on hold:
- No handshake between BSF and Pakistan Rangers
- The border gates will remain closed during the drill
- The ceremony will take place with limited ceremonial flourish and under enhanced security presence
Public attendance may be allowed in a restricted or phased manner depending on the evolving security situation, but no official timeline has been announced for a full return to the pre-April 22 format.
