Monty Python’s Flying Circus premiered John Cleese’s “The Ministry of Silly Walks” in 1970.
The sketch satirically skewered British bureaucracy’s upper echelons.
More than a decade earlier, India and Pakistan had already perfected the art of highly choreographed “silly walks”…but in real life, with neither satirical nor comedic intent.
Various “silly” walks are a key element in a bizarre military ritual, still conducted late each afternoon on the Indo-Pakistani border, less than one hour’s drive from both the Indian city of Amritsar and the megacity of Lahore.
The “Lowering of the Flags” ceremony is profoundly paradoxical: its very existence is a fruit of bitter enmity, but it requires meticulous cooperation and coordination between its Indian and Pakistani participants.
Civilian citizens of both nations hugely enjoy their attendance; inter-crowds’ rivalry (Indians and Pakistanis are seated separately, with each crowd on “home turf”) is robust, but not hateful.
The “vibe” is very akin to “Aussies and Barmy Army, cheerfully teasing each other at an Ashes Test”.
Each ceremony is staged as a “contest”.
Pakistan “won” on 10 May 2024.
A future, multi-image Pelican Yoga post will show and tell much more.
(this post’s photo is copyright Doug Spencer, taken from the Pakistan side of the Attari -Wagah border at 5.23 pm on 10 May 2024)