[In Pictures] Since 2014, Here’s How PM Modi Has Celebrated Every Diwali With Soldiers Guarding India’s Borders

In 2014, his very first year as the Prime Minister (PM) of India, Narendra Modi visited Siachen - the world’s highest battleground - to celebrate Diwali with the soldiers guarding India’s borders in an extremely inhospitable terrain. At the time, no one could guess this would become an annual tradition.

“I have specially come on the occasion of Diwali to be with you. I am aware how it feels like to spend Diwali with your family. The happiness is different, but you are so involved in the devotion of your motherland that family is spending Diwali somewhere else and you are somewhere else guarding the motherland,” he said.

“My coming to this place will not fill the void of your family members, but as a representative of 125 crore people... after being with you I feel proud and satisfied,” Mr. Modi told the Jawans.

PM Modi had also told the soldiers that issues of the armed forces were personal and emotional subject for him, and promised to build a National War Memorial. The memorial was inaugurated on 25 February 2019 by the PM near India Gate, New Delhi.

He visited the Dograi War Memorial, and the Barki War Memorial along with Asal Uttar, the site of one of the biggest ever tank battles. The battle of Asal Uttar is known for the bravery of Veer Abdul Hamid, who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra. All three battles were decisive successes achieved by the Indian Army during the 1965 war.

While the 2014 and 2015 Diwali celebrations of the Prime Minister were with the soldiers at the India-Pakistan border, he chose to celebrate 2016 Diwali with the personnel guarding India-China border.

The prime minister in 2016 also started a Sandesh2Soldiers campaign, through which people could send a message to the soldiers. According to PMO, over 10 lakh messages were received- approximately three lakh from the Narendra Modi application.

In 2018, the preparation for 2019 General Elections were on the high, but the Prime Minister kept up with the tradition of celebrating Diwali with the troops posted in remote areas.

This was the prime minister’s first to Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, coinciding with Infantry Day celebrations. The Prime Minister interacted with the soldiers at BG Brigade headquarters in the town.

Now every Diwali, as an Indian celebrates the centuries-old tradition of returning of Lord Rama to Ayodhya, he also remembers the soldiers that couldn’t return home for Diwali celebrations.