A Decade Of Diwali At The Frontlines: PM Modi Celebrates With Naval Forces On INS Vikrant

For over ten years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has turned Diwali into more than a personal celebration, into a national tradition that honours India’s armed forces at some of the country’s most challenging frontiers, whether in the mountains or at sea.

This year, the Prime Minister spent the festival with Navy personnel aboard the INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, stationed off the coasts of Goa and Karwar on Monday.

Addressing officers and sailors on the deck of the warship, Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed a familiar sentiment central to his Diwali visits: that the nation’s soldiers are his family.

“It has become a habit of mine to celebrate Diwali with my family, and that’s why every year I come to celebrate Diwali with my family,” PM Moid stated.

Describing the moment as deeply symbolic, he further added, “Today, on one side, I have infinite horizons and infinite sky, and on the other side, I have this giant, INS Vikrant, embodying infinite powers.”

‘Always by Your Side’

The origins of this practice trace back to his early years as Gujarat’s Chief Minister.

In 2001, his first Diwali in office was spent in Kutch, a region still recovering from a devastating earthquake.

According to Modi Archive, a social media page chronicling his public life, this decision reflected his belief in reaching out to those facing hardship, a principle that has defined his subsequent Diwali visits.

In 2009, during a visit to Nathu La on the Indo-China border, Prime Minister Modi wrote in the visitors’ book that a soldier’s duty is more than service, it is ‘sadhana’ (spiritual devotion) and ‘tapasya’ (penance).

His message, however, concluded with the words that would become emblematic of his bond with the forces: “Always by your side.”

“To the brave soldiers devoted to our Motherland, my warm Diwali greetings. It has been my privilege to celebrate Diwali with our jawans on the border. India is proud of you. Your duty is not just service; it is sadhana, it is tapasya. May the Almighty bless you and your families with happiness, peace, and fulfilment. Always by your side. Narendra Modi. Diwali. 16 October 2009,” PM Modi wrote.

Diwali with the Armed Forces Across India’s Borders

Since assuming office as Prime Minister in 2014, PM Modi has continued this pledge each year, making it a defining aspect of his leadership.

His chosen destinations often reflect India’s most demanding military posts and strategic locations.

His first Diwali as Prime Minister was celebrated in 2014 at the Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield. Subsequent years saw him visit the Punjab border (2015), Sumdoh near the China border in Himachal Pradesh (2016), and the Gurez sector in North Kashmir (2017).

In the years that followed, he further celebrated with troops in Harsil, Uttarakhand (2018), Rajouri, Jammu & Kashmir (2019), Longewala in Rajasthan (2020), Nowshera, Jammu and Kashmir (2021), Kargil in Ladakh (2022), Lepcha in Himachal Pradesh (2023), and Sir Creek in Gujarat (2024).

This year’s visit to INS Vikrant further strengthened this tradition, highlighting the strategic importance of India’s naval power and its role in safeguarding the nation’s maritime boundaries.

Morale and Message

Beyond symbolism, this annual practice has become a major morale booster for the armed forces.

It brings the Prime Minister into direct contact with soldiers serving in remote or testing conditions, reinforcing the message that the entire nation stands with them.

By sharing the light and warmth of Diwali from the high mountains to the open seas, Prime Minister Modi’s visits, however, serve to unite the forces under a sense of national family, bringing the spirit of the festival to the nation’s frontlines.