Wagah Border Parade, preparation of Rangers men and enthusiasm of people

Lahore: Every evening at Wagah Border National Flag hoisting ceremony is held, on this occasion there is a battle of passion between the jawans of Pakistan Rangers Punjab and BSF India which people from all over the country come to Wagah Border to witness.

The enthusiasm and passion of the people can be seen here, on national festivals and holidays, there is no place to sit in the Wagah Stadium.

The unfurling of the national flag and the parade on the eastern border of Pakistan started in 1959 and continues even today. Young people, old people, women, children and foreigners come here every day to watch this parade. This parade on the border of Pakistan and India is famous all over the world. An hour and a half before the parade starts, the stadium fills with spectators. On this occasion, chants of Milli songs are heard while fans raise slogans. The enthusiasm of the parade watchers is palpable.

Most of the citizens who came to watch the parade from different parts of the country said that they had come for the first time, before that they had seen the parade only on TV screens. Here the feeling of love for the country and Pakistan forces is highlighted, the feeling that we are Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi, Pathan or Kashmiri is erased, we feel only Pakistani, we feel proud that we are Pakistani.

Citizens said that we must show this parade to our children so that they can see how Pakistan Rangers Punjab and our forces are making sacrifices to protect the country.

Photo: Express News

During the parade, when the young man who lost one leg showed his performance by carrying the national flag in one hand and a crutch in the other hand and saluted the national flag, the atmosphere echoed with slogans and applause. Small children who came to watch the parade also saluted and saluted the national flag imitating the soldiers of Punjab Rangers.

Lt. Col. Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, the local wing commander of Pakistan Rangers Punjab, while talking to Express News, said, “This parade started in 1959, which is still going on till today.” The parade does not stop regardless of the weather. Public entry was closed during Covid-19, but the hoisting of the national flag in the morning and the lowering ceremony in the evening were mandatory.

The wing commander said the parade was closed during the 1965 and 1971 wars. He said that this is a wonderful tradition, here there is a message of love for Pakistan.

Special jawans of Punjab Rangers are selected in the parading troop, preference is given to tall and agile jawans. This squad consists of 28 youths. At the start of the parade, when the troop arrives at the stadium, two Lady Rangers walk ahead of the troop. The Parade Commander initiates the parade after taking permission from the Wing Commander. Rangers warm up before the parade begins. A Rangers jawan in the parade said that he is 6 feet 8 inches tall and belongs to Kasur. He runs 7 to 8 kilometers daily in the morning along with his other colleagues and then has X-size. Mutton is given for breakfast while milk is drunk in the evening.

Another Rangers youth Ali said that as soon as they go to the stadium for the parade, their emotions and feelings change, in front of them are the youths of the enemy country, there is a battle of enthusiasm during the parade. We proudly puff out our chests and respond by looking the enemy soldiers in the eye.

Jawan Khanzada, a Rangers member of the squad, said in response to a question that extra leather and iron spikes are placed on the bottom of their boots, due to which the sound is louder when they lift their feet and hit the ground.