Humorous and strange gait of Indian soldiers seems to not everyone. But when it comes to the famous goose step at the border with Pakistan, it is not a military standard, but a cerebral ritual, which is deliberately exaggerated and theatrical.

This is not a marching step, but a spectacle

What you see in the video with Indian soldiers most often happens at the border Wagah (Wagah-Attari) between India and Pakistan. Every evening there is a ceremony closing the border, where soldiers from both countries compete in the extravagance of movements.

The meaning of this performance is not military training, but a demonstration of strength and spirit in front of the enemy. Soldiers lift their legs high (sometimes almost to their heads), stamp heavily, furrow their brows, and clench their fists, trying to look as terrifying as possible. To an outside observer, it looks comical, but to the participants, it is a matter of national pride.

Where did such a manner come from

The roots of this tradition go back to the British colonial school. The Indian army adopted British military traditions, but over time pushed them to the extreme, turning them into acrobatics. At the border with Pakistan, this manner became a way to show who is cooler, so the movements are deliberately exaggerated.

This is harmful to health

The most interesting thing is that the soldiers themselves are not enthusiastic about such a load. Due to constant high kicks and strong blows of the foot to the ground, soldiers have sore knees and injured legs. In 2010, India and Pakistan even agreed to remove the most extreme elements (for example, high kicks), because it injured the military personnel.

So it's not the Indian army that walks like this, but a specific border ritual that looks funny, but requires enormous physical endurance and patience from those who perform it.

Summary table

Conclusion

The comical gait of Indian soldiers is not a military standard, but a ceremonial ritual at the border with Pakistan. It looks theatrical, but requires enormous physical endurance and patience from those who perform it.

Permanent link to this publication: