‘Pakistan Zindabad’ – a rallying cry

Pakistan Day is celebrated all over Pakistan with special ceremonies and functions but this year it was special since there is a palpable feeling of patriotism in the air because of the recent misadventure by one of our neighboring countries! The parade ground looked beautiful with neat beds of flowers and the colorful flags of the countries participating in the show, along with the flags of different Pakistani regiments. The packed seating area where women and children wore colorful clothes – many of them in green outfits - also added to the celebratory ambience.

There is something about a parade which cannot be explained - it arouses different feelings in different people. For some it is a show of strength; for others it is part of the celebration and for most it is part of feeling pride in our armed forces. An upsurge of patriotism occurs as the smartly turned out contingents march past and can even be felt even if one is not physically present and watching the parade on television. This year the participation of friendly countries made it even more interesting and enjoyable.

From the ceremonial entrance of the president; the daring and thrilling fly past of the CAS and acrobatic feats of other ace pilots, till the folding of the national flag to mark the end of the ceremonies, it is a glorious show of commitment and love for the country. It is heartening to see the disciplined and well groomed men of the various segments of the armed forces, especially the commandos. As for the female participants, they are just as smart, well trained and orderly as their male counterparts and give’s a different image of the country, contrary to the perceived one. While the show of strength as far as military armaments may not be of everyone’s interest, the precision flying of small planes etc: is another feature which is thrilling to watch along with the parachute jumps that the soldiers manage to execute perfectly despite high velocity winds.

While all floats representing the provinces are aesthetically decorated and bring a cheerful atmosphere after the military hardware, this year the ‘Pakistan Zindabad,’ float with children dressed in ethnic costumes waving flags and shouting ‘zindabad’ vociferously when the vocalist sang the theme song, was also heartwarming because every Pakistani in the parade ground responded in the same manner and ‘zindabad’ resounded in the air. All in all it is fabulous show, so hopefully it will continue to take place every year despite the naysayers. Armed forces Zindabad. Pakistan Paindabad!