Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said he would continue his annual tradition of celebrating Diwali with Indian soldiers, but did not reveal where he would spend the festival this year. In a video message to the nation, he extended his greetings and described Deepavali as a celebration of light triumphing over darkness, while wishing citizens happiness, peace and prosperity.
In the 50-second video shared on social media platforms, including X, Modi appeared in traditional attire with a tilak and directly addressed the people on the occasion of the festival.
“The entire country is glowing with lights on the occasion of Deepavali. This festival of light is a reflection of our resolve against darkness,” he said, offering his “very best wishes” to everyone. He also expressed hope that the festival and the days ahead would bring happiness, peace and prosperity.
PM Modi says Diwali with soldiers tradition will continue
The Prime Minister also spoke about his annual practice of celebrating Diwali with personnel of the armed forces, saying it had become a regular feature of his schedule since he took office.
“Spending Diwali among the country's jawans has become my regular routine every year, and this will continue this year as well,” he said, without disclosing the location of his visit. He concluded the video by once again conveying his heartfelt greetings to the nation.
Modi's Diwali visits to military installations have been a regular feature of his tenure since 2014. He began the tradition at the Siachen Base Camp, considered the world's highest battlefield.
In 2015, he celebrated the festival with troops in the Punjab sector near Amritsar. The following year, he visited Sumdoh near the China border in Himachal Pradesh. His subsequent Diwali engagements included the Gurez sector in Jammu and Kashmir in 2017 and Harsil in Uttarakhand in 2018.
In 2019, he spent the festival with soldiers in Rajouri along the Line of Control, followed by Longewala in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer in 2020. He visited Nowshera in Jammu and Kashmir in 2021, Kargil in 2022, Lepcha in Himachal Pradesh in 2023 and Sir Creek in Gujarat's Kutch in 2024. Last year, in 2025, he celebrated Diwali aboard the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant off the Goa-Karwar coast.
Over the years, these visits have taken him to icy glaciers, desert outposts, high-altitude military positions and naval platforms. They are aimed at boosting the morale of personnel who remain on duty while the rest of the country celebrates with their families. During the visits, Modi often interacts informally with soldiers, shares sweets and describes the armed forces as an extended family.
PM Modi's written Diwali message
Apart from the video address, the Prime Minister also issued a written greeting through the government's Jan Sampark portal. Addressing recipients as “Dear fellow citizen”, he described Diwali as a celebration of the “eternal victory of light over darkness, goodness over evil and hope over despair”.
He said the festival was an opportunity to cherish India's rich traditions and strengthen bonds of togetherness. Modi wished that Diwali would illuminate every home with “happiness, harmony and prosperity” and urged citizens to “work with renewed energy and determination towards building a prosperous and Viksit Bharat”.
Several people also received the same greeting in their email inboxes from no-reply@sampark.gov.in, the official sender ID used by the government's e-Sampark platform for mass outreach messages.
Diwali, including Lakshmi Puja, will be celebrated on November 8 this year.