Amritsar Day 2: Attari Border Ceremony

This evening we attended the Attari-Wagah border ceremony.    It's something I had seen occasionally on TV and had always wanted to see for real, and it didn't disappoint.  The ceremony itself sees soldiers from India and Pakistan strutting at each other from their respective sides of the border gate, each trying to outdo each other by the drama of their dance-like marches, the height of their kicks, and their peacock-like uniforms and head dresses.  The ceremony culminates in a perfunctory handshake and a synchronised lowering of flags.  Prior to the ceremony one of the members of the Border force whipped up the enthusiasm of the crowd, getting loads of people down to dance to loud music, and leading the audience in competitive cheering and clapping.  An amazing experience; my main shot is from the ceremony but photos don't really do it justice; it needs to be experienced.  I've added a couple more shots as extras.

But before all that, this morning we had a walking tour of old Amritsar which was fascinating.  Along tiny old streets with units that made me think that walking around Pompeii 2000 years ago wouldn't have seemed much different.  We sampled little bits of street food on the way, and I've added an extra of one stall selling stuffed naan breads as a breakfast treat.  We also visited the Jallianwala Bagh, the public garden that houses a memorial to the hundreds of non-violent protesters that were massacred by the British occupying forces; very moving.  On a lighter note, I've also added another extra; road rage Amritsar style!

Moving on tomorrow to Dharamsala, the home of the Dalai Lama which should be interesting.  We also stop there for three nights, so should be able to unpack a little more than we have already!