Rajnath Singh to Celebrate Diwali with Soldiers at Sikkim's Nathu La Frontier

On Saturday, the eve of Diwali, Singh is set to meet and interact with Army personnel at Bagdogra Airfield in Darjeeling and Sukna near Siliguri.

Announcing his programme on X, the Defence Minister said he would spend time with soldiers at both locations ahead of the festival.

On Sunday, November 8, Singh will visit the Sherathang War Memorial in Sikkim to pay tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty. He will also interact with military personnel deployed in the region, including those guarding the frontier near Nathu La.

In his announcement, Singh said the visit would include paying homage to those who made the supreme sacrifice in service of the nation.

Singh's Tradition of Celebrating Festivals with Soldiers

The Defence Minister has regularly marked major festivals with armed forces personnel stationed in different parts of the country.

In 2025, he celebrated Dussehra with soldiers at the Bhuj Military Station in Gujarat. He joined them for the traditional 'Bada Khana' and performed Shastra Puja.

During the same visit, Singh witnessed a multi-agency exercise at Lakki Nala near the India-Pakistan border. The exercise involved the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and other security agencies, highlighting coordination and operational preparedness.

In 2024, Singh celebrated Diwali with Army personnel at the 4 Corps Headquarters in Tezpur, Assam, where he interacted with officers and soldiers and acknowledged their service.

Earlier that year, he marked Holi with armed forces personnel at the Leh Military Station in Ladakh, sharing sweets with them. He also laid a wreath at the Hall of Fame in Leh as a tribute to fallen soldiers.