Page 206 - Udaan 2019-2021...

Our next visit was to the Wagah-Attari border. The visit to the Partition Museum
was again enlightening since all the artefacts which were kept there had been

procured post the Partition of India. One which caught my attention was the
story of how the owners of ‘MDH Garam Masalas’ came to India from Sialkot in

Pakistan, post partition. Their struggles started from the road, selling half of the
spices they had when they fled from Pakistan and cultivating the remaining

half. They later became the ‘Spice King’ of India.
Once we were done with the museum visit, it was already half past eleven in

the morning and the sun was shining bright. I ordered a soothing mango lassi
from a nearby dhaba. By noon, we were on our way to the border and stopped

by a roadside dhaba for lunch. It offered an authentic Lahori cuisine which
included an array of kebabs and rose sherbet. The one which I loved the most

was the ‘Botti Kebab’. The Dhaba was called ‘Sarhad’ which means Border. It
was named so because it was located near the Indo-Pak border. Our way to
Wagah went through mustard and corn fields. When we reached Wagah Border,

we witnessed parades , gun-firing and many other types of acts being
performed by the soldiers. Both the army officials of India and Pakistan shook

hands with each other towards the end. The ceremony ended with everyone
singing the National Anthems of their respective countries.

It was our last night in Amritsar so we decided to have our dinner in another
local Dhaba there and that night we feasted on typical Punjabi dishes of makki

ki roti, saag, chicken tandoori and halwa. Although it has been two years, I still
remember the food, songs, the people and the lovely memories associated with

this trip. It was so beautiful and mesmerising. I loved my trip and I was very
happy knowing about their history. I would recommend everyone to visit

Amritsar at least once in their lifetime.