Why The Attari-Wagah Beating Retreat Is Scaled Down Amid India-Pakistan Tensions

The iconic Beating Retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border is back—but in a scaled-down form. Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan over the past few weeks, this daily military ritual has resumed without some of its hallmark gestures, like the traditional handshake and gate-opening sequence. But where did this unique ceremony originate, and has it ever been paused before? The Beating Retreat ceremony was launched in 1959 as a joint decision between India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers. Drawing from British military traditions, the ceremony was meant to symbolize both rivalry and respect—featuring synchronized flag-lowering at sunset, dramatic salutes, high kicks, and patriotic posturing by troops on either side.

Performed only at the Attari-Wagah border, the ceremony remains a powerful display of national pride and military discipline. But in its current toned-down form, it reflects the fragile state of bilateral relations. The handshake is gone. The border gates stay shut. The tone is more restrained. This isn’t the first time the ceremony has been suspended or altered. In November 2014, Pakistan called off the event for three days after a suicide bombing near the Wagah post. In March 2019, following the release of Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, the ceremony was scaled down to avoid spectacle. In 2020, it saw its longest suspension due to COVID-19. And after the Pahalgam terror attack, it was paused for 12 days. As the ceremony returns—albeit modestly—it remains a striking symbol of both conflict and coordination between two nuclear-armed neighbours. But will it ever return to full glory? Watch the full story to understand the history, symbolism, and the current state of this dramatic daily ritual.