India got it's independence from the British rule in the year 1947. The British rule culminated in India being divided into two main nations India and Pakistan. Pakistan was again divided into two main parts East Pakistan and West Pakistan. The part of Pakistan which was on the Western side of India was known as West Pakistan and the part which was on the Eastern side of India was called East Pakistan.
The partition of India (division into India and Pakistan) gave rise to massive riots in both countries and this resulted in loss of many lives in both countries. In Pakistan a lot of Hindus were mercilessly killed and they proclaimed themselves to be a Muslim majority country. The Hindus did the same in India. However, there were many Muslims who loved India and wanted to stay back. India has a history of showering love on people who love them and hence India decided to keep these Muslims. Thus India became a country where all religions Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists etc live happily.
The biggest effect of the war was that the two countries India and Pakistan became enemies due to the riots. The fact that many Muslims did not go to Pakistan made Pakistan more jealous and angry. The result was that they started waging regular wars against India. Another reason for the regular wars is that Pakistan wants to occupy an Indian Territory by the name of Kashmir.
There have so far been three major wars between India and Pakistan. The three wars are India-Pakistan war of 1965, India-Pakistan war of 1971 and the Kargil War-1999. In all the three wars India have had huge victories over Pakistan.
To add to this there have been regular skirmishes in the border. The situation almost always remains volatile in the different borders.
For these reasons the conditions between India and Pakistan almost always remains competitive. Both countries always try to outdo the other wherever possible and almost always India has emerged as a victorious nation.
India and Pakistan share a massive 3323 km boundary. Out of this the Attari-Wagah border is one of the most famous border. One of the reasons why the border is so famous is the retreat ceremony which is held at the border gate two hours before sunset every day.
In the ceremony,flags of both countries are lowered by the security forces of both countries. Border Security Force (BSF) of India and Pakistani Rangers of Pakistan jointly follow the military practice since 1959. The process is characterized by elaborate and rapid dance like manoeuvres and raising legs as high as possible. It is a symbol of the rivalry, brotherhood and co-operation between both the countries. Similar parades are also organised at the Mahavir-Sadqi border near Fazilka and Hussainiwala-Ganda Singh Wala border near Firozpur.
The ceremony occurs every evening immediately before sunset at the border which is part of the Grand Trunk Road. The road was the only link between the two countries before the opening of the Aman Setu in Kashmir in 1999.
The ceremony starts with a parade by soldiers of both sides and ends up in the perfectly co-ordinated lowering of the two nation's flags. It is called the Beating Retreat Ceremony at the international level and attracts many visitors from both countries as well as international tourists.
One infantryman stands in attention on either side of the gate. As sun sets the iron gates are opened and the flags are lowered simultaneously. The flags are folded and the ceremony ends with a retreat that involves a brusque handshake between soldiers of either side and closing of the gates.
In October 2010, Major General Yaqub Ali Khan of Pakistan Rangers decided that the aggressive nature of the ceremonial theatrics should be toned down.
The soldiers of the ceremony are specially appointed and trained for this brilliant ceremony. Some of them also keep a special type of beard or moustache for which they are paid separately.