CM Samrat Choudhary shares PM Modi's Diwali with jawans live
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Every Diwali, the Prime Minister trades the capital's fireworks for a forward post — and this year was no different. Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary shared a live broadcast on Sunday, 8 November 2026, showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrating the festival of lights alongside Indian armed forces jawans, keeping alive one of his administration's most visible traditions of solidarity with the military.
A tradition the Prime Minister has made his own
Since taking office in 2014, PM Modi has consistently chosen to mark major national festivals — Diwali chief among them — in the company of soldiers rather than at ceremonial state events. The gesture, broadcast live each time, is designed to signal that the comfort and morale of the men and women in uniform rank above protocol. It has become one of the most recognisable recurring images of the present administration.
The Indian armed forces, whose personnel are routinely stationed at remote forward areas far from their families during festivals, receive these visits as a direct acknowledgment of their sacrifice. The live format amplifies that message, bringing the moment into homes across the country in real time.
Why Bihar's CM amplified the broadcast
Samrat Choudhary, a senior BJP leader and Chief Minister of Bihar — a state that has historically contributed a large share of recruits to the Indian Army — shared the stream on his official handle. The act underlines how the festival-with-jawans tradition resonates across the party's leadership, particularly in states with deep military ties. Bihar has long sent generations of soldiers to every major theatre, and the symbolism of the broadcast carries particular weight for families watching from the Gangetic plains.