CM Rekha Gupta shares PM Modi's Diwali with Bastar troops
Synopsis
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta shared Prime Minister Modi's Diwali message on November 8, 2026, in which he described celebrating the festival with security forces deployed in Bastar's forests, calling troops his family and referencing past Diwalis from Kargil to INS Vikrant.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi spent Diwali 2026 with security forces in Bastar, Chhattisgarh — one of India's most active internal-security zones.
His message called soldiers, paramilitary, and border personnel 'my family' and 'sentinels of Mother India.' The PM referenced past Diwali visits to Kargil , Sir Creek , and aboard INS Vikrant , India's first indigenous aircraft carrier commissioned in 2022 .
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta amplified the message on X on 8 November 2026 .
The gesture fits a broader BJP pattern of using major festivals to publicly honour armed forces across all security theatres.
On a festival when millions of families reunite across India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose the dense forests of Bastar, Chhattisgarh as his Diwali destination — celebrating the occasion alongside security personnel deployed in one of the country's most demanding internal-security theatres. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta shared the Prime Minister's message on X on Sunday, 8 November 2026, amplifying the tribute to the men and women guarding the nation's borders and forests.
Modi's Diwali in Bastar's forests
The Prime Minister's message, shared by CM Gupta, opens with the universal spirit of the festival: 'aaj poora desh aur duniya ke kone-kone mein crore bharatiya prakash ka pavan parv mana rahe hain' — 'Today, the entire country and crores of Indians in every corner of the world are celebrating this sacred festival of light.' He then pivots to its personal meaning: 'This time I have come to Bastar's forests to celebrate Diwali, to be among all of you.'
Bastar is a district in Chhattisgarh long associated with Left Wing Extremism and sustained counter-insurgency operations, where paramilitary and police units maintain a constant, high-risk presence. Choosing it as a Diwali destination is a pointed gesture of solidarity.
From Kargil peaks to INS Vikrant — a tradition of festive frontline visits
Modi's message traces a geography of service: from Kargil in the high Himalayas — site of the 1999 armed conflict — to Sir Creek, the disputed marshy borderline in the Rann of Kutch, to INS Vikrant, India's first indigenous aircraft carrier commissioned in 2022. 'Every Diwali spent with brave soldiers has been memorable for me,' he writes, casting the armed forces as his own family: 'You are all my relatives. You are all part of my family.'
Indian political leaders have long maintained a practice of visiting forward deployments and conflict zones during major festivals to boost troop morale. The gesture carries particular weight in Bastar, where security personnel operate far from their families for months at a stretch.
Why CM Gupta amplified the message from Delhi
By sharing the Prime Minister's words on Diwali, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta aligned the capital's festive messaging with a national salute to the armed forces — a recurring motif in BJP communication that links major festivals to expressions of gratitude toward security personnel across every theatre, from the Himalayas to the sea to the forests.
The pattern is consistent: use the emotional gravity of a festival to highlight India's security commitments, remind citizens of the sacrifice behind the celebrations, and project a government that is present — not just in Delhi — but wherever the uniform is worn.
This Diwali, that place is Bastar. And the message, reaching from the forest floor to every lit home in India, is unambiguous: the nation's sentinels are not forgotten.
Point of View
National-security seriousness, and BJP's self-positioning as the party closest to the uniform. Bastar, as a theatre of ongoing Left Wing Extremism operations, adds an edge that Diwali visits to static border posts do not: it signals confidence in ground-level security gains while honouring personnel in an active conflict environment. Delhi CM Gupta's amplification extends the message's reach into the urban voter base, reinforcing a party-wide Diwali narrative that travels from jungle postings to Delhi drawing rooms.
NationPress
8 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did PM Modi celebrate Diwali in 2026?
PM Modi celebrated Diwali 2026 with security forces in the forests of Bastar, Chhattisgarh, a region known for Left Wing Extremism and ongoing counter-insurgency deployments.
Why does PM Modi celebrate Diwali with soldiers?
Modi has maintained a tradition of spending major festivals with frontline security personnel to boost troop morale and publicly honour those who cannot return home during the holidays.
What is INS Vikrant and why did Modi mention it?
INS Vikrant is India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2022. Modi mentioned it alongside Kargil and Sir Creek to illustrate the range of locations — sea, mountains, and disputed borders — where he has previously celebrated Diwali with troops.
What is the significance of Bastar for Indian security forces?
Bastar in Chhattisgarh is a long-standing hotspot for Left Wing Extremism, where paramilitary and police units conduct sustained counter-insurgency operations, often far from their families for extended periods.
Why did Delhi CM Rekha Gupta share PM Modi's Diwali message?
CM Rekha Gupta shared the message as part of Diwali outreach, aligning Delhi's festive communication with the national tribute to armed forces — a recurring theme in BJP's festival-season messaging.
