The crash of waves, the gleam of the Arabian Sea and the iron silhouette of INS Vikrant formed the backdrop as Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali with the Indian Navy, calling the indigenously built aircraft carrier “a towering symbol of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and India’s maritime pride.”
Speaking aboard the warship off the coast of Goa and Karwar, Modi praised the Navy’s legacy of strength, vigilance and courage, recalling its defining role in securing India’s seas. “INS Vikrant’s very name took away Pakistan’s sleep. If just its name could shake the enemy’s courage, that is INS Vikrant for you,” he said, his words met with cheers from the assembled sailors.
The Prime Minister described the vessel as more than a warship, “a reflection of India’s military might, talent and commitment.” He added, “INS Vikrant, tearing through the oceans, is a testimony to 21st-century India’s hard work, innovation, and determination. Vikrant is huge, vast and panoramic. Vikrant is outstanding, Vikrant is also special.”
Standing on deck with the evening sun glinting across the waters, Modi called the occasion deeply symbolic, “Today is an amazing day. This scene is memorable. On one side, I have the ocean, and on the other, the strength of the brave soldiers of Mother India.”
Reflecting on the significance of celebrating the festival with India’s defenders at sea, he said, “I feel fortunate to be celebrating this sacred festival of Diwali with you, the brave soldiers of our Navy.”
He later shared that the night spent aboard the warship was “an unforgettable experience, filled with the spirit of patriotism and pride.” Modi said, “The night spent yesterday on INS Vikrant is hard to put into words. I saw the immense energy and enthusiasm you all were filled with. When I saw you singing patriotic songs and describing Operation Sindoor through your performances, I realised that no words can truly capture what a soldier feels while standing on the battlefield.”
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The Prime Minister evoked the memory of the 1971 war, highlighting the Navy’s key role in the swift victory over Pakistan. “The fear created by the Indian Navy, the amazing skill displayed by the Indian Air Force, and the bravery of the Indian Army, the tremendous coordination of the three forces forced Pakistan to surrender so quickly in Operation Sindoor,” he said.
Turning his attention to India’s strides in defence self-reliance, Modi hailed INS Vikrant as “a towering symbol of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Made in India.” He stressed that the indigenous warship embodied the nation’s technological progress and collective determination.
Standing before naval personnel, he added a poetic flourish: “Today, on one side I have infinite horizons and sky, and on the other stands INS Vikrant, embodying infinite power. The glow of the sun’s rays on the ocean’s waters feels like the Diwali lamps lit by our brave soldiers.”
Modi also spoke admiringly of India’s military assets, saying, “I was observing the strength of the military equipment. These large ships, aircraft that move faster than the wind, these submarines, they are impressive in themselves, but what makes them truly formidable is the courage of those who operate them.”
He added, “These ships may be made of iron, but when you board them, they become living, breathing forces of the armed services. I have been with you since yesterday, and in every moment, I have learned something.”
Modi’s Diwali with the Navy marked another chapter in his tradition of celebrating the festival of lights with India’s armed forces — a gesture he began in 2014, symbolising his tribute to those who guard the nation’s borders and seas.
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