Wagah - The Border with Pakistan

The Indian flag and border marker.

Most importantly, where the Indians have built a grandstand for over 2,000 people to watch the nightly closing of the border ceremony.

The Pakistan flags flutter less than 100 metres away.

Considering these guys where shelling and shooting each other less than 5 years ago they seem to get on pretty well.

The Indian Commanding officers, dressed in elaborate head dress that kind of makes them look like big Cocks.

These two chaps are pretending not to like all the attention, whilst looking directly at our camera.

Great Tashes though!

All the guards are over 6ft which is unusual for Indian men. Jason is convinced they are all wearing elaborate stilts for boots in order to make themselves look bigger than those annoying Muslims next-door. Those Muslims who now wear similar stilts to look down on those silly Hindus over the road... keeping up with the Mohammed / Patels next door and all that.

It is a riot, a very fun, happy riot that made us feel like we were at a cricket match. These people are all very proud of their country, and part of the theatre show is to out do the Pakistan side in noise and dancing.

We don't have any good photos of the marching and machismo that went on between the two countries due to bad light and bad timing!

Basically, each side lets out a squad of men, that leave a guard room, who then stomp about huffing and puffing with their faces scowling, and fists clenched. The gates are then flung open where each country salutes and handshakes the other before closing the gates and lowering the flags.

It is pure comedy and similar to the Monty Python "We are the knights who say Neee" sketch.

There are lots of people to watch and smile with.

A guard MC's to whip the Indian crowd into a frenzy chanting "Hindustan" and a bunch of other stuff in Hindu.

Many Indians go home very happy and on a buzz.

This very serious commander poses for a photo. The men are wearing some very large boots.