In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s gesture of celebrating Diwali with troops in forward areas, the country’s top defence brass is also celebrating the festival with troops in different locations across the country.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan is celebrating Diwali with troops deployed in the Andaman and Nicobar Command in Port Blair and participating in festivities there. Indian Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi will celebrate Diwali with troops in Arunachal Pradesh and has already met with the Defence Minister.
Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi is celebrating the festival with naval troops at Porbandar in Gujarat, which sees a lot of action related to nefarious activities from the Pakistan side and the smuggling of contraband.
Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh would celebrate the festival with troops in the Jammu and Kashmir sectors.
Leaving New Delhi for Tawang on a two day visit to Arunachal Pradesh. Looking forward to interact with Armed Forces personnel and attend the inaugural ceremony of a museum dedicated to brave Indian Army officer Major Ralengnao Bob Khathing.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 30, 2024
While the PM has been celebrating Diwali with troops in the forward locations, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh started the trend of doing shastra pooja or worshipping arms with troops on the occasion of Dussehra. He started it soon after taking over as Defence Minister in 2019 when he went to France to get the first Rafale for the Indian Air Force.
भारत में विजयादशमी के अवसर पर शस्त्र पूजन की बड़ी पुरानी परंपरा रही है। आज सुकना, दार्जिलिंग में 33 कोर हेडक्वार्टरस में की शस्त्र पूजा। pic.twitter.com/f67IJFyjPz
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 12, 2024
A number of senior officers, including the Army Chief, also spent the Dusshera with troops in Sikkim and West Bengal.
