The 20th Anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas is being celebrated today. The day is named after the successful Operation Vijay in 1999, when India regained the control of the high outposts which had been stealthily taken over by Pakistan.

The Kargil war was fought for more than 60 days and ended with India regaining control of all the previously held territory. The central theme of this year’s celebrations is ‘Remember, Rejoice and Renew’. On the occasion, President Ram Nath Kovind, who is also the Supreme Commander of the armed forces, will lay wreath at Cinar Corps Headquarters, Badamibag at Srinagar. President’s earlier programme of paying homage to war soldiers at Dras was cancelled due to bad weather.

The three service chiefs paid tribute to the Kargil War martyrs at Dras.  Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with three Service Vice Chiefs paid homage to Kargil Soldiers by laying wreath at National war memorial in New Delhi.

The celebrations of 20th Anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas began in Delhi on 14th of this month. The Victory Flame traversed through eleven towns and cities and finally culminated at Dras where the flame was merged with the eternal flame at Kargil War Memorial.

Main celebrations have been spread over three days begining yesterday. A Commemoration Ceremony is being organized at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, where a panel discussion with the war veterans and serving officers will be conducted. The event will be followed by Kargil Vijay Diwas Evening, a cultural extravaganza, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium tomorrow.