We went to Vishnodevi in April last year and as part of the trip spent a day in Amritsar. While the golden temple obviously was the most spectacular place to visit, I must add that the ceremony at Wagah border was another amazing highlight of the trip.
For simple citizens like us, Wagah is probably the closest we get to the Indian border. Every evening, the army hosts a parade ceremony which is visited by hundreds of Indians. A similar event takes place on the other side of the border as well. A simple gate marks the boundary.
The parade in itself is very beautiful, but what makes it more entertaining and fun is the competitive spirit with which it takes place. The performers, on both sides of the border try to outdo one-another and are cheered on by the home crowd. The louder the better.
Some people from the crowd were asked to come forward and do a little run with the flag flying high, and patriotic songs playing in the background. Towards the end, both the sides do a parade face-off. It was the highlight of the event. Super energetic with drum rolls and everything. And those sky-high salutations, with the legs going all the way up to almost 180 degrees! It was simple awesome.
A must watch for anyone visiting Amritsar. There are things from your trip that make it memorable - this is definitely one of those.
