Wagah

Wahga (Urdu: واہگہ‎, Shahmukhi Punjabi: واگھا) or Wagha is a village and union council (UC 181) located in the Wahgah Zone of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.[1] The town is famous for the Wagah border ceremony and also serves as a goods transit terminal and a railway station between Pakistan and India.[2] Wagah is situated 600 metres (2,000 ft) west of the border and lies on the historic Grand Trunk Road between Lahore and Amritsar in India. The border is located 24 kilometres (15 mi) from Lahore and 32 kilometres (20 mi) from Amritsar. It is also 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the bordering village of Attari.

For the Indian film, see Wagah (film).
"Wagah Border" redirects here. For the border ceremony called "lowering of the flags", see Wagah border ceremony.
Wahga

واہگہ
Union Council
Wahga
The evening flag lowering ceremony at the Pakistan–India international border near Wagah
Location of Wagah
Wahga
Location in Pakistan
Coordinates: 31°36′17″N 74°34′23″E
Country Pakistan
ProvincePunjab
DistrictLahore
ZoneWahga
Union Council181
Population
 • TotalCantonment village: 26,900
Municipal corporate council: 560,968
Border: 230,008
Time zoneUTC+5 (PST)

Wagah-Attari border ceremony
Main article: Wagah-Attari border ceremony

Border crossing

The border crossing draws its name from Wahga village, near which the Radcliffe Line, the boundary demarcation line dividing India and Pakistan upon the Partition of British India, was drawn.[3] At the time of the independence in 1947, migrants from India entered Pakistan through this border crossing. The Wagah railway station is 400 metres (1,300 ft) to the south and 100 metres (330 ft) from the border.

Border crossing ceremony

The Wagah-Attari border ceremony happens at the border gate, two hours before sunset each day.[3] The flag ceremony is conducted by the Pakistan Rangers and Indian Border Security Force (BSF), similar to the retreat ceremonies at Ganda Singh Wala/Hussainiwala border crossing and Mahavir/Sadqi International Parade Ground border crossing. A marching ceremony, known as the "Silly Walk ceremony", is conducted each evening along with the flag ceremony. The ceremony started in 1986 as an agreement of peace, although there was not a conflict at that time. Other Middle Eastern nations have adapted similar ceremonies in recent years.

Wagah flag

Following India's erection of a 360ft (110m) flagpole on their side of the border in Attari, in August 2017, a 400ft (122m) flag was installed on the Wagah side. The pole in Attari is the largest in India.[4][5]

  • The Pakistani gate at the border crossing
  • The Pakistani building at the border crossing, with a picture of Muhammad Ali Jinnah on top
  • Indian BSF at Wagah
  • Women personnel of Indian BSF at Wagah
  • Punjab Rangers at Waga
  • Milestone near Wagah Border
  • Paddy field near Wagah border

See also

References
  1. https://lgcd.punjab.gov.pk/system/files/MCLZones.pdf
  2. "Mixed feelings on India-Pakistan border". BBC News. 14 August 2007.
  3. Jacobs, Frank (3 July 2012). "Peacocks at Sunset". The New York Times.
  4. "Tricolour on tallest flag mast installed near Attari border - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  5. "Army Chief hoists flag on Wagah border". The Nation. Retrieved 2017-08-13.

Flag-lowering ceremony at Wagah border becomes more peaceful at Wikinews

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