Drone Show, Tech Displays & Tributes Light Up Kargil War Memorial
Drass, Jul 25: The entire nation will commemorate the 26th Kargil Vijay Diwas on Saturday, and pay homage to the brave officers and soldiers who laid down their lives while pushing back Pakistani intruders during the Kargil War in 1999.
Observed every year on July 26, Kargil Vijay Diwas marks the announcement of Indian Army’s successful culmination of ‘Operation Vijay’, declaring victory after a nearly three-month-long battle in the icy heights of Kargil, including super-high-altitude locations, such as Tololing and Tiger Hill.
The Indian Army has planned a series of events on Friday and Saturday to commemorate the bravery and valour of officers and soldiers.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday, met the families of the martyrs at a gathering organised to pay homage to the martyrs of the 1999 Kargil War at Lamochan view point in Drass.
Mandaviya is scheduled to lead a ‘padyatra’ featuring over 1,000 youth volunteers, veterans, armed forces personnel, families of fallen soldiers, and civil society members in Drass on Saturday to commemorate the 26th anniversary of India’s victory in the 1999 Kargil War.
Mandaviya will also be joined by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth in the ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas Padyatra’ being organised by MY Bharat (Mera Yuva Bharat), under the aegis of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
“The Padyatra, covering a distance of 1.5 kilometers, will commence at 7am from the grounds of Himabass Public High School, Drass, and will conclude at the grounds of Government Higher Secondary School, Bhimbet,” it added.
The two ministers, accompanied by 100 youth volunteers, will then proceed to the Kargil War Memorial to lay wreaths and offer homage to the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during the 1999 conflict with Pakistan.
Mandaviya will also felicitate 26 women bikers of the Shakti Udgosh Foundation, who will arrive at the war memorial after completing a long-distance motorbike rally undertaken as a tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives.
The padyatra will also feature a plantation drive under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign.
The Union ministers are scheduled to visit the Kargil War Memorial on Saturday and lay floral wreath as a tribute to the valiant soldiers.
After flag hoisting and interaction with the next of kin of the martyrs, there will be cultural performances including Yak dance.
Artists from various parts of the country will perform a national integration dance. There will be a rendition of patriotic songs before felicitation of the next of kin of the martyrs.
Then there will be Beating Retreat and a rendition of the national anthem to mark the closure of the formal celebrations.
On Friday, the army staged a drone show here, highlighting the technological advancements made in border security since the 1999 war with Pakistan.
The drones flew over the arena and showcased their capabilities of undertaking various tasks, including surveillance, deliveries and targeting enemy positions by firing explosives.
The Unmanned Aerial Vehicles included Logistic Drones that can be operated at a high altitude of around 4,000 metres, a technology which has been developed indigenously.
The drone show also included robotic dogs, which can be used for carrying loads like ammunition in rough terrains as well as for patrolling purposes along the Line of Control.
The drones and other technologies inducted into the army since the Kargil war will help increase the effectiveness of surveillance and delivery of logistics to remote areas while keeping an eye on inimical elements effectively, a senior official said.
He said these technologies will reduce the fatigue and dangers faced by soldiers in difficult terrain and tough weather conditions in the Ladakh region.
On Saturday, the Army will on Saturday launch three key projects, including a portal where citizens can pay ‘e-shradhanjali’ to martyrs.
The other two projects are a QR code-based audio application on which people can listen to the stories of the battles fought during the 1999 Kargil war and the Indus Viewpoint, which will offer people a chance to go up to the Line of Control (LoC) in the Batalik sector.
Giving details of the ‘e-shradhanjali’ project, an Army official said, “The citizens can now pay e-shradhanjali to the heroes who made the supreme sacrifice for the country without visiting memorials.”
The project is being launched to sensitise people about the sacrifices made by the armed forces and the hardships they face while discharging their duties, he said.
Using the QR code-based application, people can listen to stories about the various battles that were fought during the 1999 Kargil war against Pakistani intruders.
“The concept is similar to museums, where the visitors can listen to the details of the exhibits using earphones. Here people will get to listen to the saga of courage, valour, bravery and sacrifice by the soldiers,” he added.
The third project to be inaugurated on this year’s Vijay Diwas is the Indus Viewpoint, which will allow visitors to go up to the LoC in the Batalik sector.
“This will give an idea to the visitors about the conditions in which soldiers serve, the difficulties and constant dangers they face on a day-to-day basis to ensure that the nation remains safe,” the official said.
Batalik was one of the main battlegrounds during the Kargil war. Besides battling the enemy, the soldiers had to contend with inhospitable terrain and high altitude.
Located at an altitude of over 10,000 feet, Batalik was the focal point of Kargil war due to its strategic location between Kargil, Leh and Baltistan.
The small village in the Indus River valley has now become a major tourist attraction.
Meanwhile, in the run-up to the main event, MY Bharat has mobilised youth across the region through an array of community-based activities such as essay writing, elocution, painting competitions, and Yuva Samvads (youth dialogues). These pre-padyatra events are designed to nurture civic consciousness, spotlight stories of military courage, and cultivate a sense of emotional proximity with the armed forces.
The padyatra itself is part of a larger series of Viksit Bharat Padyatras being held across the country. These marches aim to inspire national pride, foster unity among young people, and embed the ideals of public service and patriotism into the country’s youth culture. The initiative also aligns with the Prime Minister’s call for Jan Bhagidari—people’s participation—in nation-building.
According to officials, the aim is not only to honour the memory of the brave soldiers who fought in Kargil, but also to activate a deeper emotional and civic commitment among India’s youth—referred to as the Amrit Peedhi—towards shaping a strong, inclusive, and developed India.
It may be mentioned that Deputy Commissioner Kargil, Rakash Kumar has held a preparatory meeting for the upcoming Vijay Diwas Padyatra at the Tourist Dak Bungalow in Drass.
Senior officials including SSP Kargil Shri Ram R (IPS), SDM Drass, and representatives from multiple departments participated in the meeting, which focused on ensuring seamless coordination for the patriotic march to honour the heroes of the 1999 Kargil War.
Speaking on the occasion, DC Rakash Kumar said, “Vijay Diwas is a reminder of the unparalleled bravery of the Indian Armed Forces during the Kargil War. The Padyatra must be organized in a way that truly reflects patriotism and encourages active youth participation.”
Key logistical and organisational issues were discussed, including student participation, transport arrangements, medical support, traffic regulation, cultural programming, and media coverage. The SDM Drass was appointed overall in-charge of the event.
