The full parade at the indian-pakistani/border in Wagah seems like a satire on borders, countries, wars and armed forces. The uniforms seem extremely exaggerated. Men dressed like cocks with facial expressions directly copied from a descent cockfight. And where have I seen those "Special Forces" before - was it Michael Dudikoffs "American Fighter"? Oh, yes! Amusement par excellence. The audience loves it.
I am laughing tears the first few minutes until I realize that they actually mean it for real. On both sides! Instead of a bold symbol for peace and a global solidarity of human mankind, people seem to shout with red faces against each other.
But there are those few moments and signs of brotherhood and peace: the shaking hands, the monument on the indian side for 1.000.000 killed citizens and this one-legged flag dancer on the pakistani side saluting the Indians.
Later, back in Delhi, I have this dream that this stadium at the frontier one day becomes a theater stage, where artists and actors from both sides meet and art and theater festivals push forward an unstoppable peace process.
Photo 1: Advanced Cockfight
Photo 2: Monument on indian side
Photo 3: one-legged pakistani flag dancer
