Dras, July 25: The Indian Army on Saturday began a series of commemorative events at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras to mark the 27th anniversary of Operation Vijay, paying tribute to the courage and sacrifice of soldiers who fought in the 1999 Kargil War.
The two-day programme, spread across multiple venues including the Kargil War Memorial, Lamochen View Point, Vishwanathan Stadium and Sando Top in the Dras sector, features military displays, cultural performances and memorial ceremonies. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to attend the main events on Saturday evening and Sunday.
The commemoration commenced with ‘Yudh Sansmaran’ at Lamochen View Point, overlooking the historic Kargil battlefield. The event included a documentary on the Kargil War and Operation Vijay, followed by a commemorative film honouring 40 Kargil martyrs in the presence of their next of kin.
Senior Army officers, Kargil War veterans, Veer Naris and Veer Matas attended the programme. Major General Amit Prakash Singh, General Officer Commanding, Forever in Operations Division, was among the dignitaries present.
Later in the day, the Army will organise ‘Gauravmaya Sanskriti’, a cultural programme celebrating patriotism, India’s heritage and the professionalism of the armed forces. The event will feature a patriotic performance by the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre Band and a precision motorcycle display by the Army’s ‘Shwet Ashwa’ riders. Lt Gen Madanraj Pande, General Officer Commanding of the Fire and Fury Corps, will be the chief guest.
A ceremonial ‘Vijay Bhoj’ will also be hosted to commemorate India’s victory in Operation Vijay.
In the evening, the Army will hold ‘Shaurya Sandhya‘ at the Kargil War Memorial, where Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will lead tributes to the fallen soldiers. The event will also be attended by Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, Lt Gen Madanraj Pande and other senior military officials.
On Sunday, Kargil Vijay Diwas will be observed with a wreath-laying ceremony titled ‘Shradhanjali Samaroh’ at the War Memorial. The programme will include ‘Gaurav Gatha’, recounting the bravery of Indian soldiers during the conflict, and the inauguration of a virtual walkthrough portal by the Defence Minister.
The celebrations will conclude with the flag-in of the ‘Shaurya Vijay Yatra’ motorcycle rally from the National War Memorial in New Delhi to the Kargil War Memorial in Dras, symbolising the nation’s enduring gratitude to the heroes of Operation Vijay. (Agencies)
